The days of accusations of landlords falsely charging tenants for property damage may end if a proposal to require photographic proof of the damages passes tomorrow night at the Housing Committee meeting. >

Ald. Eli Judge, District 8, crafted and introduced the photo ordinance last year to stop landlords from inventing damages and deducting from tenants� security deposits.

�It shows that things landlords claimed actually happened,� Judge said.

The photo ordinance would require all landlords in Madison to present photographic proof of any property damage in order to deduct from a tenant�s security deposit � the money a tenant puts down before signing the lease. It is kept as a guarantee the tenant will not damage the apartment and pay the rent.

Currently, landlords do not need to present proof of damage to take money out of a tenant�s security deposit.

Working with students throughout Madison and landlords who manage massive developments like the Embassy, Judge said he has heard nothing but praise for the photo ordinance. �Many students have told me, �This isn�t a law already?�� Judge added.

According to Judge, complaints come from landlords of smaller properties who say the ordinance constitutes over-regulation and would be an added burden.

Lee Glauser, a University of Wisconsin senior, lived at La Ciel two years ago and experienced a landlord deducting $100-200 from his security deposit because the cleanliness of his refrigerator and dish washer were not �up to their standards.�

�It was ridiculous,� Glauser said. La Ciel is under new management now, he added.

The Housing Committee will discuss the photo ordinance, with a few new �more owner-friendly� amendments at 5 p.m. Wednesday in the Madison Municipal building. Judge said he encourages students to attend and to share their feedback.

�This is a very important student issue,� Judge said. �It�s really something that should and needs to be done.�