Now What? Landlord is Renovating the Building
Scenario 1: Landlord wants me to move immediately to renovate the unit I am living in during the middle of my lease.
- If the tenant has a lease with an end date, then the landlord can’t make a tenant move during the middle of a lease. Unless the tenant agrees to move, the landlord must honor the lease agreement.
- If the tenant has a month-to-month lease, then the landlord still has to give proper notice. Click here to learn more.
Scenario 2: Landlord wants me to move for some time to renovate the unit.
- A tenant is not required to move for renovations. Because a landlord is not required to pay for alternate housing during renovations, tenants should consider negotiating the terms.
- Note: Renovations may take longer than expected, so tenants should take caution about where they’ll live in the meantime.
Scenario 3: The landlord’s renovations are not completed, and I’m missing ________.
- The tenant may have remedies under general Illinois case law or the Illinois Residential Tenants' Right to Repair Act. Click here to learn more.
Scenario 4: The renovations are affecting me.
- Tenants have the right to quiet enjoyment of the rental property.
Scenario 5: My landlord put my property into storage because of renovations, but now my stuff is gone or lost.
- If you have renter's insurance, you may be able to file a claim with your rental insurance company.
- If you don't have renter's insurance OR were unable to file an insurance claim, you may be able to file a small claims case against the landlord and/or the landlord's agents who lost the property. However, this is something you would likely either need to do on your own or hire a private attorney
Scenario 6: We signed a lease. The landlord said renovations would be done by the time we moved in, but they said they’re not done and we can’t move in. Or we moved in and noticed that there are severe problems with the unit.
- Tenants may have a claim for breach of contract. Reach out to the local legal aid organization or a private attorney.
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.