Frequently Asked Questions
As college landlords, we are used to having a tenant base relatively new to the rental world. While this can be a fun and exciting time in life, it is also important that tenants (and likely parents) understand exactly what lease agreements say and mean and some basic components of living in your new college home. We are used to fielding questions from prospective and current tenants, so feel free to contact us if you feel like you can't find an answer from the list here as it is certainly not exhaustive.
Expand AllThe actual form must be obtained through the Wisconsin Department of Revenue. They have made the PDF form available online at: https://www.revenue.wi.gov/TaxForms2023/2023-RentCertificatef.pdf. You will need to print out a copy from the website if you plan on filing for the Wisconsin Homestead Credit. The state of Wisconsin does not require landlords to complete these forms and you are still eligible for the tax credit without the landlord's signature, so you will simply need to follow the steps on the form. We have created an example with instructions here.
The simple answer is no. We are in no way a part of the University of Wisconsin System. We have, though, been renting to UW-Whitewater students in this community for nearly 60 years and partner with the university on a number of projects. Our staff is comprised primarily of UW-Whitewater students and alumni, so we are able to work closely with them should any issues arise.
Our rental season in Whitewater starts relatively early. We begin showings in early October and begin signing leases the following week. Prospective tenants may call our office to schedule a showing at 262.473.5321. Prospective tenants should note that all roommates must be present for a showing of any unit for more than one person. We extend our evening and weekend hours during showing season to accommodate the hectic schedule of most college students.
Yes. Students who receive financial aid may pay their rent using financial aid refunds. Tenants should note, however, that because we are not part of the university, our system is somewhat different. Tenants should anticipate paying a portion of their rent balance by the due date and furnishing proof that financial aid will be received. Tenants receive a two-week extension for payment of rent once that information is received. Tenants should note, however, that parking permits may not be purchased until rent is paid in full.
Yes, we do employ a full-time, licensed maintenance staff to address major and minor maintenance issues in our properties. If you should ever have an issue, you need only contact our office to put in a work order. Work orders may be submitted by phone at 262-473-5321 or email at maintenance@dlkrentals.com. If it is an emergency, our office line does ring to an after-hours line once the office closes, so you should use the same number. Please note that turn-around time on work orders does vary a bit depending on the urgency of the request and the current workload of our maintenance staff.
While our lease does not require that tenants have renter's insurance, it is a very good idea to make the purchase for additional peace of mind and protection of tenant belongings. While we insure the building against damages, that would not cover tenant belongings in case of any issues (fire, flood, tornado, etc.) Renter's insurance costs very little to obtain and can save you a great deal of money and stress later.
Any vehicle parked in a DLK Parking Lot without a valid parking sticker may be ticketed and/or towed at owner's expense. DLK Enterprises utilizes On-Time Towing for towing services. You may reach On-Time Towing by phone at (262) 731-2908.
Whitewater does not have a great deal of extra parking in and around campus. Given the location of our apartment buildings, the likelihood of illegal parking by non-tenants increases significantly. Requiring parking permits makes certain that only tenants who live in the building are utilizing the parking spaces. Parking fees are utilized to supplement the costs of parking lot maintenance—from snow removal to resurfacing, there are additional costs to maintain parking lots beyond the cost of building maintenance. Parking permits also allow us to overflow lots to satellite lots once they are filled. Please remember if you live in a location where parking is included, you are STILL required to obtain a semester parking permit EACH semester and put it on your vehicle.
D.L.K. offers temporary parking in a limited number of parking lots where spaces are available beyond the number of tenants with vehicles in the lot. These parking lots are: University Inn, Cambridge, and Hawk Apartments. Please keep in mind that if you are visiting someone or live in a different location, you may not use these passes in those parking lots unless approved by office staff and assigned a specific permit for that lot. At our office, overnight passes are available for $5 and one-week passes are available for $10. Additionally, you may purchase one-week passes ONLY at the BP station at 1138 W. Main Street.
In locations where internet is provided, DLK utilizes Ethernet ports for tenants to connect to the internet. If tenants would like to have wireless internet, they must obtain a wireless router and install in the apartment/house. You will find instructions on router hookup here.
NETGEAR regularly releases firmware updates to improve product performance, add new features, and enhance security. Instructions and a video may be found at https://kb.netgear.com/23442/How-do-I-update-my-NETGEAR-router-s-firmware-using-the-Check-button-in-the-router-web-interface.
We are happy to speak to parents/guardians about your apartment, but only if a signed release form is on file in our office. All tenants on our leases are adults and must consent to financial or lease information being disclosed to any other parties. Even if parents pay 100% of the rent, we are unable to discuss any rental terms or leasing issues if tenants elect not to sign a release form. These forms can be obtained at our office and can be signed for as many or as few individuals as a tenant deems necessary.
All tenants on leases with DLK that have more than one resident sign a joint lease. This means that these tenants are responsible as a whole for all rent payments and maintaining the unit in rentable condition. Should one tenant violate the lease terms, all tenants may be held liable. Choose your roommates wisely and only sign leases with people you know!
Unfortunately, no. All tenants are responsible for all lease terms even if they choose not to attend UW-Whitewater. If you elect to transfer schools or withdraw from the university for any reason and do not wish to live in your unit any longer, you are responsible for finding an assignment.
Tenants are responsible for finding individuals to take over a lease agreement. This means that DLK cannot provide you with tenants to fill the lease agreement (and doesn't have that information anyway.) We find that most tenants utilize online resources for finding subleases. Once you have found someone, you will be responsible for all fees associated with the assignment. Please note that all roommates must be present at the time of assignment.