BOSS is a safe ride service available to UWM students, operating every day between the hours of 6:00 PM and 2:00 AM during the traditional academic calendar. More information on BOSS can be found on the Transportation Services Website.
Milwaukee County Transit System
All UWM students will receive a free U-PASS MCard that can be used to ride the City of Milwaukee buses free of charge, during their time as a student. The city buses are a great and easy way to get around. There are 7 local bus routes and 3 express bus routes in Milwaukee County that take passengers directly to the University.
Please note that under COVID-19 Restrictions: MCTS has lifted the capacity restriction on all their buses and the passenger capacity limit has returned to normal, fare collection and front door boarding have resumed, riders are required to wear masks while on board, regardless of vaccination status, and the MCTS Administration Building remains closed to visitors. More information and updates on MCTS can be found on their website. updated as of July 1, 2021
Night Parking
There is no parking on city streets between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. Monday through Saturday unless a vehicle has an Overnight Parking Permit or Temporary Night Parking Permission.
Night parking permits cost $55 annually or $20 for a 4-month period (January-April; May-August; September-December). Night parking permits can be purchased online or at the Milwaukee Police District that you currently reside in. Call (414) 933-4444 and ask for the location of your district station or click on district station locations.
Daytime Parking
Parking on the streets of Milwaukee can be difficult at times and often requires a residential parking permit in the areas near UWM. In order to obtain a residential parking permit, you must have a valid Wisconsin license with an address that matches your current Milwaukee residency, and Wisconsin license plates.
What to do if you need parking:
- Change the address on your license online or go to the DMV to get a new license. The DMV will require a form of identification and proof of residency to get a new license, you can find information about acceptable forms of identification on the Wisconsin DMV website. Information for new residents can be found on the DMV website as well. Costs for IDs and Driver’s Licenses can be found on the DMV website and IDs for the purpose of voting are free. If you meet the right criteria, you can update your ID address online instead of in-person at a DMV.
- If your car is registered outside of Wisconsin, register it in the state of Wisconsin. To do this, go to the DMV and bring your car’s title, proof of identification and proof of sales tax if you have owned the vehicle for less than 90 days. Bring a form of payment to complete the registration, expect to pay around $200. More information on registering your car in Wisconsin can be found on the Wisconsin DMV website. Never keep your car title in your car, keep it in a safe space in your home. If you car gets towed you will need to title to retrieve it.
Occupancy Ordinance
1. More than 3 unrelated adults living in a unit, no matter how many bedrooms, requires a rooming house license*. This is not common for landlords to have in the City of Milwaukee, as it is typically pricey. Additionally, there must be more than one exit within the dwelling. If looking at an attic or basement unit, make sure there are multiple exits, or it is an illegal dwelling. Citations could be as much as $5,000 and may be issued against the landlord and the tenant for illegal occupancy.
2. A common ploy by unethical landlords is to allow more than three unrelated adults to rent a location, saying something similar to: “You can just put three names on the lease” or “How many people that live there is up to you. I don’t prohibit subleasing.” When caught by the City of Milwaukee, the landlords may then claim to have only rented to a legal number of people. Only those on the lease can legally stay, and must pay the entirety of the rent for the rest of the lease. Unfortunately, this is a common occurrence. Moving and finding a new apartment in the middle of the semester for this reason is an unnecessarily stressful experience.
3. Check the Department of Neighborhood Services website and look up the complaint and violation history of the property. Most landlords are honorable business people. However, some have bad records. You may also check Wisconsin Circuit Court Access for a possible landlord’s court record. Be aware of properties with recent, active violations and landlords with backgrounds of excessive housing related records, such as evictions.
4. Property complaints can be made to the Department of Neighborhood Services Customer Service line at 414-286-2268, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m—4:45 p.m.
Don’t get evicted!
Renting with more than three unrelated adults puts tenants and the landlord at risk for tickets and eviction.
*A rooming house means any building or part of any building or dwelling unit occupied by more than three persons who are not a family** or by a family and more than two other persons for periods of occupancy usually longer than one night and where a bathroom and toilet are shared.
**Family means, unless otherwise specified, a person occupying a dwelling unit, or dwelling unit with one or more persons who are legally related to such occupant by virtue of being husband and wife, son or daughter, uncle or aunt, grandparent or grandchild, niece or nephew, first cousin, mother or father-in-law, all of whom comprise no more than one nuclear family unit per household.
#Adulting Bingo 2018
Sundae Funday 2019
Sundae Fun Day is one of many Fall Welcome events happening for all UWM students! The Neighborhood Housing Office staff drive around the neighborhood surrounding UWM and give out free ice cream to students and neighbors. Through this program, UWM students develop a sense of belonging to the City of Milwaukee!
Being a Good Neighbor
UWM lies at the center of a lively mix of neighborhoods on Milwaukee’s Upper East Side, each with its own personality and distinctive blend of housing, shops, restaurants, parks and nightspots. Located just a few blocks from Lake Michigan, these neighborhoods are home to many UWM faculty, staff, alumni and students.
Due to the special nature of these neighborhoods, UWM is joining with students and community members to help persevere the neighborhoods’ character. Successful living in this area requires respect, communication and cooperation by all community members. This means working together to ensure that all members of the community respect the rights and diversity of their neighbors and takes responsibility for following community standards.
Showing Respect
Tenants
Tenants receive the use of the property for the term of the rental. They are expected to leave the property in good condition at the end of their stay. While in residence, tenants are expected to be good neighbors.
Being a good neighbor includes but is not limited to:
- Reporting problems promptly
- Keeping the property clean and removing garbage
- Wheeling trash and recycling carts to designated pick-up areas and returning them to storage areas when emptied
- Picking up debris outside the building and in common rooms and hallways
- Refraining from making noise at levels that would disturb others
- Avoiding all illegal activity
Being a good neighbor is especially important when there is no owner or manager on site. It’s a good idea for new tenants to introduce themselves to their neighbors and exchange phone numbers. Problems often can be avoided or quickly solved when neighbors know each other and communicate effectively.
Landlords
Landlords are in the business of renting property. The rent charged for the property depends on its size, location and condition. Landlords must provide a reasonably secure environment with working fixtures, heat and hot water, a hazard-free environment with smoke detectors and fire extinguishers, access to city services and access to the rented unit during the active rental agreement.
Landlords must follow established legal procedures when asking a tenant to vacate a property. The landlord is responsible for enforcing all codes applicable to rental property. These include occupancy codes, noise codes, building safety and security codes, nuisance codes, cleanliness codes and health codes.
The best landlords form a partnership with their tenants, which provide quality housing, maintains the value of their property and results in a living situation that is in harmony with the neighborhood.
Key City Codes
Occupancy
Occupancy of any unit, including homes, is restricted to no more than three (3) unrelated people, regardless of the number of bedrooms available, unless the landlord has a rooming-house license. Renters should also be aware of illegal attic or basement units. More information on the occupancy ordinance.
Alcohol
Milwaukee Police enforce the codes regarding illegal use of alcohol. Citations and fines can be issued for public drinking and the purchase of alcohol by a minor. The sale of alcohol or cups at parties is also illegal and grounds for the responsible party to receive citations. All fines increase for the second and third offenses. With the second offense, landlords as well as tenants receive a fine, increasing the offenders’ chance of eviction. A complaint regarding alcohol use/distribution can be made at the time of offense or the next day.
- An illegal tavern costs about $2,500. Note: an illegal tavern is when there is a gathering where liquor is being distributed or sold. More information on illegal taverns.
Noise
Like most older, established neighborhoods, the Upper East Side is an area of closely-spaced homes and apartment buildings. Keeping noise – and music – to acceptable levels and reasonable hours is important. The Milwaukee Police strictly enforce rules related to loud called noise ordinances. Fines for excessive and/or late-night noice can be expensive and increase with each subsequent offense. Landlords are liable with the second offense, often leading to eviction of the offender. Similar to alcohol offenses, a complaint regarding noise can be made at the time of the offense or the next day.
- The cost of a Noise Ordinance ticket is $206 for the first offense. More information on Noise Ordinances.
Laws & Fines
Fines vary between UWM Police and Milwaukee Police. City of Milwaukee fines reflect minimums for first offenses and are subject to change. Download full .pdf of offenses and penalties.
Remember, UWMPD, MPD and the Dean of Students Office work closely together to address student concerns off-campus. Even if you are off-campus, you are a member and representative of the greater Panther community. Any off- or on-campus misconduct will be reported to the Dean of Students Office and may results in a student conduct process. More information on laws and fines.
Tips for Renting to International Students
Students from around the world choose Milwaukee as their destination to study and live. The Off-Campus Resource Center hopes to assist these students in their search for off-campus homes. Below are some tips on how to successfully rent to international students in Milwaukee.
| THINGS TO AVOID: | THINGS TO DO: |
|---|---|
| Requiring a credit check - Most students do not have established credit in the U.S. Unless they are employed, students also do not have social security information. | Rather than a credit check, adopt a double security deposit policy for tenants. |
| Exclusively verbal communication - Language can be a barrier while contacting international student tenants. | Write down all communication with students to minimize confusion and track conversations. |
| Requiring a cosigner –Most students do not have someone in the U.S. that can cosign. | Ask the student to provide information similar to that already given to the university (e.g. identification, proof of funding or bank statement, etc.) |
| Mailing a security deposit to students –Many students leave the U.S. after vacating a unit and mailing a check internationally can be difficult. | Conduct a walk-through during move-out with the students, calculate a total for deductions, and return the remaining deposit in person. |
| Creating an ad without images of the unit – Many students begin their housing search online before they enter the U.S. | Provide photos, video, and clear description of the unit’s amenities and features that students can use to make their housing arrangement decisions. Offer virtual showings as international students cannot enter the US until 30 days prior to the first day of classes. |
| Explaining tenancy expectations solely through a lease – Students can find lease structures confusing, especially in a second language such as English. | Clearly express your expectations of tenants verbally or through email. |
| Making assumptions about a student’s rental or living experience in or out of the U.S. | Ask questions throughout the student’s application, occupancy, and move-out stages. |
Be patient. It can be stressful renting in a foreign country. Keep in mind that many countries don’t take leases as seriously as the U.S.
Spring Programs
This spring, we will cover the rental timeline, roommates, finances, leases and rental applications, and move in and move out through our virtual programs, including several virtual tour of homes!
Make sure to complete the most important and necessary step in the rental process by signing up for our online, rental education course, the Preferred Tenant Program. Students who complete the course will receive either $250 off their security deposit or 2% off their monthly rent from participating landlords.
Topic Timeline
- February 1st – 5th: Determining the Best Environment for You
- February 8th – 12th: Deciding On/Finding Roommates
- February 15th – 19th: Assessing Your Finances
- February 22nd – 26th: Determining Living Space Wants vs. Needs
- March 8th – 26th: Start Actively Searching
- March 29th – April 2nd: Attend Showings and Interview Landlords
- April 5th – 9th: Narrowing Down Your Options
- April 12th – 16th: Obtain a Sample Lease & Have it Reviewed
- April 19th – 23rd: Filling Out the Rental Application
- April 26th – May 7th: Signing Your Lease
- May 10th – May 31st: Moving Out
Engagement Opportunities to Look Out For
- Word Searches
- BINGO
- Mind Maze
- Crossword Puzzle
- “What Kind of Roommate Are You” Quiz
- Monthly Budgeting Tools
- Virtual ‘Tour of Homes’
- YouTube Videos
Get Informed!
Make sure you have subscribed to our e-newsletter, the Off-Campus Insider, to stay up to date on all of the spring programming events.
Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for more updates.
We would like your feedback to help determine how to best fit our programming to your needs. Please consider completing this survey.