Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Wisconsin
Can A lanlord withhold buisness papers & files
Due to buisness failure we were no longer able to fullfill our lease agreement.
The landlord has changed the locks and will not let us in to get paperwork buisness files, etc..
There was no eviction notice given and in fact we were only one month late.
Can said landlord keep buisness papers software etc "Computer Buisness" or are we able to get at least the paper work back. And in fact the lease is still under our old partners name.
Please Help
1 Answer from Attorneys
Landlord Self Help
Seek the advice of local counsel. Landlord has no right to self help in changing locks. If you call police and make arrangements to have locksmith provide you with a key for entry you would be within your rights. However, I am concerned as to the timing of your intial question and advise to seek the help of an attorney as soon as possible and before you take action on your own. Police may not want to get involved, but if you explain to them what happened and say the landlord is holding your equipment without legal authority they may assist in the retrival process.
Gerald Hershenson
Law Office of Gerald M. Hershenson
506 Corporate Drive West