Wisconsin, Milwaukee's biggest landlord Berrada settle suit. How tenants can find answers.
Current and former tenants of MIlwaukee landlord Youssef "Joe" Berrada's companies wondering how they may be impacted by state's recent settlement of a suit against the rental kingpin can find answers on a new website launched by the state.
The frequently asked questions page created by the state Department of Justice and the Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection can be found at https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs_Services/BerradaSettlementFAQ.aspx . The page includes answers to questions including how to get rent assistance and how the eviction diversion program works.
The state settled its 2021 lawsuit against Berrada and his companies in Decemeber when Berrada agreed to pay $1.7 million and and take several other actions including creating $1.3 million account to pay rent assistance.
The suit charged that Berrada and his companies routinely trampled on the rights of tenants through a variety of actions, including confiscating renters' property and illegally forcing some out of their rental units.
"The resolution of this case establishes programs that will provide support to many Berrada Properties tenants," Attorney General Josh Kaul said in a statement.
Berrada is Milwaukee's largest landlord. The state has said Berrada controls more than 200 limited liability companies, which combined own more than 9,000 rental units in Milwaukee and Racine.
The resolution includes agreements calling for the Berrada companies to:
Create a $1.3 million account to pay rent assistance to qualified tenants.
Vacate and seal eviction judgments against tenants who were illegally charged late rent fees or attorney fees.
Repay tenants who did not get full credit for their security deposit, had property confiscated, were subjected to evictions without a court order, or who paid late rent or attorney fees that should not have been charged.
The resolution came after a three year court battle between the state and Berrada. The state suit was filed after the Journal Sentinel posted numerous stories about Berrada's treatment of tenants and his companies' aggressive filing of eviction suits.
For example, in February 2022 Berrada companies filed at least 270 eviction action in less than one day.
The settlement also requires Berrada to vacate and seal eviction judgements resulting from late rent fees or attorney fees that DOJ charged were illegally imposed on tenants.
"Illegal business practices that harm consumers are not tolerated in Wisconsin," Randy Romanski, secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Tenants of Milwaukee's largest landlord Berrada can find help at site
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