Retaliation
As a tenant, you have the option to call Building Inspection. You have the right to ask housing providers to fix housing issues. Housing providers must not engage in retaliation.
Retaliation is when a housing provider takes an action against a tenant because they exercised a right. Unfortunately, retaliation means a negative action must take place. The law does not protect you from retaliatory actions. The law does provide a way to resolve these actions and mitigate their harm. The following are some tenant rights:
- Making a complaint to Building Inspection
- Applying for rent abatement
- Asking a housing provider to fix a code violation
Once the negative act happens, we may prosecute the action as a violation of the law. You must file a complaint before the City can look into any claims. The Department of Civil Rights (DCR) investigates claims.
Retaliation can look like:
- Refusing to renew the lease
- Filing an eviction action
- Harassing or intimidating words or actions
- Raising the rent or refusing to accept rental payments
- Changing the services available to a tenant
- Failing to perform promised repairs
- Reducing or turning off the water, electricity, or heat (always illegal)
- Charging fees
- Taking some other negative action
Report retaliation
- Visit the Department of Civil Rights' portal.
- Fill out the required fields.
- For "I believe I faced discrimination because I belong to the following protected class(es)," choose "Building Code Complainant." You can also choose anything else that applies.
If you have questions, contact DCR at 608-266-4910 or dcr@cityofmadison.com. If you need help filling out the form, find a community partner.
For housing providers
Any actions against a tenant, within six months of their complaint, may be seen as retaliation. You may need to prove the action was not retaliatory.
Resources
- Retaliation web form through Civil Rights' portal.
- If you cannot access the online form, contact the Department of Civil Rights online or at 608-266-4910.