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The material outlines risk factors and preparation steps, including communicating issues with the landlord, using written notices, and collecting supporting evidence such as photos, videos, and message records. It also describes best practices for issuing notices, contacting Neighborhood Services for inspection, using a rent abatement calculator with legal clinic support, and drafting a second letter if repairs are not completed.",{"@graph":63,"@context":119},[64,80,102],{"@type":65,"itemListElement":66},"BreadcrumbList",[67,71,74,77],{"item":68,"name":69,"@type":70,"position":9},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":72,"name":10,"@type":70,"position":73},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/",2,{"item":75,"name":41,"@type":70,"position":76},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/letters/",3,{"item":78,"name":59,"@type":70,"position":79},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/rent-abatement-know-your-rights-how-to-lower-abate-your-rent/280245/",4,{"url":78,"name":59,"@type":81,"image":82,"author":87,"headline":59,"publisher":90,"fileFormat":93,"inLanguage":57,"description":61,"dateModified":94,"datePublished":95,"encodingFormat":93,"isAccessibleForFree":96,"interactionStatistic":97},"DigitalDocument",{"url":83,"@type":84,"width":85,"height":86},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/rent-abatement-know-your-rights-how-to-lower-abate-your-rent/280245.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":88,"@type":89},"Himbo","Person",{"url":68,"name":91,"@type":92},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-19","2026-09-16",true,{"@type":98,"interactionType":99,"userInteractionCount":101},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":100},"ViewAction",8,{"@type":103,"mainEntity":104},"FAQPage",[105,111,115],{"name":106,"@type":107,"acceptedAnswer":108},"Do I need a written rental agreement to abate rent?","Question",{"text":109,"@type":110},"No. A written rental agreement is not required to abate rent.","Answer",{"name":112,"@type":107,"acceptedAnswer":113},"What evidence should I collect to support a rent abatement claim?",{"text":114,"@type":110},"Collect photos, videos, and records such as emails/texts or call notes between you and your landlord.",{"name":116,"@type":107,"acceptedAnswer":117},"Does paying rent and being current affect eviction risk?",{"text":118,"@type":110},"Yes. Withholding more rent can increase eviction risk, and being current (with nothing owed) reduces risk compared with owing back rent.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":78,"og:type":121,"og:title":59,"og:site_name":91,"og:description":61},"article",{"robots":123,"canonical":78},"index,follow",{"doc_id":125,"site_id":56},280245,1790469604,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":128},{"doc_id":125,"user_id":129,"nickname":88,"user_avatar":130,"doc_module":9,"category_id":40,"category_name":41,"doc_title":59,"doc_description":61,"doc_content":131,"file_id":132,"file_url":133,"file_type":134,"file_size":135,"view_count":101,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":9,"is_downloadable":9,"audit_status":9,"page_count":136,"language":137,"language_code":57,"site_id":56,"html_lang":57,"table_of_contents":138,"faqs":139,"seo_title":140,"seo_description":61,"update_tm":141,"read_time":76},687197100911,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/avatar/a000239b6f1da00475?x-image-process=image/resize,m_fixed,w_180,h_180&k=1785132997149421697","If you are experiencing issues with the condition or quality of your housing (something is broken or not working), you may be able to abate your rent (i.e., not pay some of the rent because the landlord has not fixed a problem they are responsible for and that problem affects your health, safety, or ability to live in the unit.) A written rental agreement is not required to abate rent.  \nUse the questions below to gather information to assess your risk in abating rent.  \n1. Do you have issues with the condition of your housing that impact 􀂉 Yes 􀂉 No your health, safety, or ability to live in the unit?  \n2. Have you previously communicated these issues to your landlord? 􀂉 Yes 􀂉 No  \n3. Did you communicate the issues in writing (text, email, letter)? 􀂉 Yes 􀂉 No  \n4. Have you documented the issues (pictures, videos)? 􀂉 Yes 􀂉 No  \n5. Have you contacted Department of Neighborhood Services (DNS)? 􀂉 Yes 􀂉 No  \n6. Are you still paying rent to your landlord? 􀂉 Yes 􀂉 No  \n7. Are you current on rent with your landlord (nothing owed)? 􀂉 Yes 􀂉 No  \nWhile notice to your landlord is not required to abate your rent, it is a best practice and reduces the risk of an eviction being granted against you. If you have not given your landlord notice in writing about the condition of your housing, you should do so before proceeding to the next steps.  \nNext Steps:  \n- Use the rent abatement calculator to determine the rent abatement amount.  \n- Draft a letter to your landlord notifying them of your intent to abate rent. Make three copies and keep two for your records.  \n- Provide the letter to your landlord by regular mail and certified mail  Keep the certified mail receipt.  \n- Call the Dept. of Neighborhood Services (DNS): 414-286-2268 to explain the conditions issues and send in pictures if appropriate.  \nRent Abatement: Know Your Rights  \n• Big safety or health problems?  \no You can move out and end your lease.  \no Stop paying rent only after you move out, take your things, and return the keys.  \n• Problems that harm health or make the home hard to use?  \no Rent can be reduced while you stay.  \no You must still pay some rent.  \no More rent withheld = more eviction risk.  \n• Always collect proof:  \no Photos  \no Videos  \no Emails/texts/call notes between you and your landlord.  \n• These protect you if the landlord tries to evict you.  \nHow to Lower (Abate) Your Rent  \n1. Write to your landlord (example attached)  \n• Say what’s wrong.  \n• Ask for a repair timeline.  \n• Keep a copy.  \n• Landlord must follow the timeline (ATCP 134.07) .  \n2. Call DNS  \n• Ask for an inspection.  \n• They can write code violations.  \n• Skipping DNS is very risky.  \n3. Use a rent abatement calculator in partnership with the Marquette Volunteer Legal Clinic.  \n• Decide how much to reduce.  \n• Never reduce rent 100% .  \n• More rent withheld = higher eviction risk.  \n4. Send a second letter (example attached)  \n• Say how much rent you’ll reduce.  \n• Say how much you’ll still pay.  \n• Keep a copy.  \nAfter the Second Letter:  \n• Landlord may take you to court if they disagree. You must show your rent reduction is fair.  \n• Landlord cannot:  \no Raise your rent for complaining  \no Shut off utilities  \no Evict you for reporting problems  \n• When repairs are done → pay normal rent again.  \nDate  \nLandlord Name and Address  \nLandlord Name  \nTenant Address  \nIssues at Property  \nHow Impacted by Issues  \nCalculate 7 days from the date the letter is signed and sent  \nTenant Name, Address, Email, Phone Number  \n\n|  |\n| --- |\n|  |\n\nDear   :  \nI am a tenant residing at   .  \nI am requesting that you address the following issue(s) at the property I am renting:  \n_______________________________________________________________________________  \n_______________________________________________________________________________  \n_______________________________________________________________________________  \nThese issues have affected my health / safety / ability to use the property I am renting i","cbCainBNejnGQErX","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCainBNejnGQErX","pdf",4918405,7,"English","# Rent Abatement: Know Your Rights\n## Gather Information and Assess Risk\n## Next Steps and Proof\n## When to Stop Paying Rent\n## How to Lower (Abate) Your Rent\n## Letter Template - First Notice\n## Letter Template - Second Notice","[{\"question\":\"Do I need a written rental agreement to abate rent?\",\"answer\":\"No. A written rental agreement is not required to abate rent.\"},{\"question\":\"What evidence should I collect to support a rent abatement claim?\",\"answer\":\"Collect photos, videos, and records such as emails/texts or call notes between you and your landlord.\"},{\"question\":\"Does paying rent and being current affect eviction risk?\",\"answer\":\"Yes. Withholding more rent can increase eviction risk, and being current (with nothing owed) reduces risk compared with owing back rent.\"}]","Rent Abatement: Know Your Rights - How to Lower (Abate) Your Rent | PDF",1789535440]