Pretty much 25-35 percent (of landlords approached) took the bait.

After a recent East Side sting operation, Milwaukee officials cited eight landlords on allegations of renting houses to more tenants than are legally allowed.

According to a Milwaukee ordinance, no more than three unrelated people can live together unless the building is properly zoned.

Throughout the past six months, the city hired someone to go out posing as an interested tenant wanting to live with more than three people in one house.

Pretty much 25-35 percent (of landlords approached) took the bait, said Todd Weiler, Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services spokesperson.

The posing tenants looked at all resources available to all interested renters such as yard signs and advertisements. Then they contacted the landlord or leasing agency.

However, since the investigation is still underway, Weiler would not disclose the type of questions the landlords were asked.

The citations were sent over the last two weeks and landlords were given summonses to go to court. They typically face a $408 fine and the violation goes on their criminal record. If they receive a second offense, they can face up to a $5,000 fine.

But Weiler said there werent any second offenders this year.

The department has been performing the sting for the last two years. In spring 2006, 10 landlords were cited and in fall 2005 there were 11.

For the sting operations, landlord were only cited on allegations of telling interested renters they would allow more than three people to live in one of their buildings. They were not cited on allegations of currently renting to illegal tenants, Weiler said.

I think its an unfortunate necessity, said David Allen, a member of the Murray Hill Neighborhood Association, about the sting operation. If you want to keep the area from being a slum, there are issues about population density.

Several of the problems related to population density are high litter, excessive garbage, loss of parking, excessive noise, Weiler said.

But not everyone thinks the ordinance makes sense. According to the ordinance, if two of the people are related then the landlord can legally rent to more than three people.

Its stupid. So its safer then just because (theyre) related? Tania Nigh, a former UWM student said. If there are four bedrooms, there should be four people allowed.

However Allen said that clause is not meant for families living together or cousins trying to get around the system.

And there are places in Milwaukee where more than three unrelated people can live together legally. If the location has suitable living conditions, landlords can file for a rooming house license. Then the Milwaukee Board of Zoning Appeals will consider the request along with comments from the neighbors.

While landlords only face a small fine for housing students illegally, Weiler said students are the ones who really lose out if they are caught.

Students dont realize they are the ultimate losers, Weiler said. Landlords will kick out the excess student, and that student will has to go look for a place to live when everything is booked.

The students left in the house will then be paying more in rent to make up for that person.

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