Understanding Leases: What if the Landlord Doesn’t Sign or Give a Tenant a Copy of the Lease in Evanston?
Question: What if my landlord does not give me a copy of the lease that I signed? What if my landlord does not sign the lease?
Answer: Sometimes, tenants might run into issues when the landlord says that the tenant doesn’t have a valid lease. The Evanston Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance answers this question.
If the Evanston RLTO protects a tenant, then:
- If the tenant signed and delivered a written lease BUT the landlord fails to sign and return the lease, that lease is still effective as long as the landlord accepted rent.
- If the landlord signed and delivered a written lease BUT the tenant fails to give a copy of the lease, that lease is effective as long as the tenant paid rent.
If the lease, which is made valid by following these rules, lasts for more than one year, it will only be valid for one year. Section 5-3-3-2 of the Evanston RLTO.
The above article provides information about legal issues but is not the same as legal advice. Legal advice is when a lawyer applies the law to your specific situation. The information in this article does not replace the advice or representation of a licensed attorney. Law Center for Better Housing cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information in this article and is not responsible for any consequences that may result from using it. You should consult with a licensed attorney to ensure the information in this article is appropriate for your specific situation. Using the information in this article does not create a relationship between Law Center for Better Housing and you as your attorney