New Website Empowers Milwaukee Renters to Investigate Landlords

Milwaukee, WI, August 26, 2026 —

A new online resource has been launched in Milwaukee, providing renters with the ability to investigate the backgrounds of their potential landlords. The website, MKEPropertyOwnership.com, aims to offer greater transparency in the rental market.

Developed by John Johnson, a researcher at Marquette University, and software developer Mitchell Henke, the platform allows users to search for property owners and explore their associated networks of limited liability companies (LLCs). The tool also provides access to public records concerning code violations and eviction filings linked to specific properties or owners.

The creation of MKEPropertyOwnership.com comes as a response to a need for accessible information regarding landlord history and property management practices. By consolidating data from various public sources, the website intends to equip renters with information that could inform their housing decisions.

The functionality of the site includes identifying the ultimate beneficial owner of a property, which can sometimes be obscured by complex LLC structures. Additionally, users can view reported code violations, offering insight into the maintenance and condition of rental units. Eviction filing data is also available, providing a record of past landlord-tenant disputes.

The individuals behind the project, Johnson and Henke, have stated their goal is to empower renters with knowledge typically harder to obtain. The website is now live and accessible to the public for use.

Story summarized from the original created by PrincessSafiya Byers on milwaukeenns.org, see more information here.

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