Understanding Essential Services: How to Notify Landlord About Failure

If the landlord fails to provide essential services, a tenant must give them written notice of the failure before acting.

1. Where to send the notice:
   1. If the landlord has informed a tenant with an address to receive legal notices, a tenant must mail or personally deliver the written notice to that address. This address is typically found in the original lease.
   2. If the landlord did not provide an address, a tenant can deliver the notice by mail to the landlord's last known address or use other reasonable means designed in good faith to provide written notice to the landlord. Other reasonable means includes text and email.
2. What the notice should say:
   1. I don't have this essential service (heat, running water, hot water, electricity, plumbing, gas).
   2. This is a violation of Section 5-12-110 of the Chicago Residential Landlord Tenant Ordinance.
   3. If you don't repair within 24 hours, I will take action. For more info about potential options, click here.

It's essential to provide written notice to the landlord as it serves as proof that the tenant informed them of the problem. This notice also allows a tenant to use their rights to legal remedies as outlined in Section 5-12-110(f)(1) – (5) of the RLTO.

If you'd like to exercise your rights under the Chicago RLTO to have your essential services restored, you can use this link to create a notice to your landlord.