Rental housing is very common in the city of Chicago. Unfortunately, due to a large number of tenants and landlords in the city, disputes arise from time to time. For example, when a landlord fails to maintain the property as required by law, a tenant may wish to terminate his or her lease. Under current Landlord Tenant Law in Chicago, this can be done after following a certain process. An attorney should be consulted, however, during this process to ensure it is followed correctly and the tenant fulfills his or her legal duties. Following is an overview of the process to be used and when it may be employed.
Landlord Noncompliance with Law
When a landlord fails to maintain the property as required, the tenant must send him or her written notice outlining the noncompliance. This notice informs the landlord the tenant plans to terminate the lease in 14 days or later unless the identified issues have been resolved. If the landlord fails to remedy the issues, the tenant may then vacate the property within 30 days without facing legal recourse. If the tenant fails to do so, the lease will remain in effect and in full force.
Reasons Why This Notice May Be Sent
A property must be fit and inhabitable at all times. This means it must remain free of pests and have both hot and cold running water at all times. Furthermore, under the law, the landlord must ensure there is adequate lighting in hallways and stairways, refuse disposal is available, and any porches and stairways are safe and sound. These are only a few of the requirements of the landlord under current law, and there are numerous more. If a tenant believes his or her landlord is in violation of the law in one or more ways, an attorney should be consulted to make sure this is the case.
To learn more about Landlord Tenant Law in Chicago, contact Starr Bejgiert Zink & Rowells. They can explain more about the laws regarding noncompliance of a landlord, when a tenant may vacate the property, and when he or she has the right to make necessary repairs to correct minor defects. Give them a call today for help with a landlord issue. They are more than happy to sit down with a tenant to determine his or her legal rights. Follow us on Twitter.
