Wisconsin Code § 411.309

Lessor’s and lessee’s rights when goods become fixtures
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(1) In this section:
(a) “Construction mortgage” means a mortgage that secures
an obligation incurred for the construction of an improvement on
land including the acquisition cost of the land, if the recorded
writing so indicates.
(b) “Encumbrance” includes real estate mortgages and other
liens on real estate and all other rights in real estate that are not
ownership interests.
(c) “Fixture filing” means a filing, in the office where a record
of a mortgage on real estate would be filed or recorded, of a financing statement covering goods that are or are to become fixtures and conforming to the requirements of s. 409.502 (1) and
(2).
(d) “Fixtures” means goods that become so related to particular real estate that an interest in them arises under real estate law.
(e) “Purchase money lease” means a lease unless the lessee
has possession or use of the goods or the right to possession or
use of the goods before the lease agreement is enforceable.
(2) Under this chapter a lease may be of goods that are fixtures or may continue in goods that become fixtures, but no lease
exists under this chapter of ordinary building materials incorporated into an improvement on land.
(3) This chapter does not prevent creation of a lease of fixtures under real estate law.
(4) The perfected interest of a lessor of fixtures has priority
over a conflicting interest of an encumbrancer or owner of the
real estate if any of the following occurs:
(a) The lease is a purchase money lease, the conflicting interest of the encumbrancer or owner arises before the goods become
fixtures, the interest of the lessor is perfected by a fixture filing
before the goods become fixtures or within 10 days thereafter,
and the lessee has an interest of record in the real estate or is in
possession of the real estate.
(b) The interest of the lessor is perfected by a fixture filing before the interest of the encumbrancer or owner is of record, the
lessor’s interest has priority over any conflicting interest of a predecessor in title of the encumbrancer or owner, and the lessee has
an interest of record in the real estate or is in possession of the
real estate.
(5) The interest of a lessor of fixtures, whether or not perfected, has priority over the conflicting interest of an encumbrancer or owner of the real estate if any of the following applies:
(a) The fixtures are readily removable factory or office machines, readily removable equipment that is not primarily used or
leased for use in the operation of the real estate, or readily removable replacements of domestic appliances that are goods subject
to a consumer lease, and before the goods become fixtures the
lease contract is enforceable.
(b) The conflicting interest is a lien on the real estate obtained
by legal or equitable proceedings after the lease contract is
enforceable.
(c) The encumbrancer or owner consents in writing to the
lease or disclaims an interest in the goods as fixtures.
(d) The lessee has a right to remove the goods as against the
encumbrancer or owner. If the lessee’s right to remove terminates, the priority of the interest of the lessor continues for a reasonable time.
(6) Notwithstanding sub. (4) (a) but otherwise subject to subs.
(4) and (5), the interest of a lessor of fixtures, including the

lessor’s residual interest, is subordinate to the conflicting interest
of an encumbrancer of the real estate under a construction mortgage recorded before the goods become fixtures if the goods become fixtures before the completion of the construction. To the
extent given to refinance a construction mortgage, the conflicting
interest of an encumbrancer of the real estate under a mortgage
has this priority to the same extent as the encumbrancer of the
real estate under the construction mortgage.
(7) In cases not within subs. (2) to (6), priority between the
interest of a lessor of fixtures, including the lessor’s residual interest, and the conflicting interest of an encumbrancer or owner
of the real estate who is not the lessee is determined by the priority rules governing conflicting interests in real estate.
(8) If the interest of a lessor of fixtures, including the lessor’s
residual interest, has priority over all conflicting interests of all
owners and encumbrancers of the real estate, the lessor or the
lessee may on default, expiration, termination, or cancellation of
the lease agreement, but subject to the lease agreement and this
chapter, or, if necessary to enforce other rights and remedies of
the lessor or lessee under this chapter, remove the goods from the
real estate, free and clear of all conflicting interests of all owners
and encumbrancers of the real estate. The lessor or lessee shall
reimburse any encumbrancer or owner of the real estate who is
not the lessee and who has not otherwise agreed for the cost of repair of any physical injury, but not for any diminution in value of
the real estate caused by the absence of the goods removed or by
any necessity of replacing them. A person entitled to reimbursement may refuse permission to remove until the party seeking removal gives adequate security for the performance of this
obligation.
(9) Even though the lease agreement does not create a security interest, the interest of a lessor of fixtures, including the
lessor’s residual interest, is perfected by filing a financing statement as a fixture filing for leased goods that are or are to become
fixtures under ch. 409.

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