Understanding Tenant Rights: Conditions Issues in Chicago
Landlord's Duty
Landlords have a legal responsibility when it comes to maintaining their rental property. In most cases, they are responsible for repairing any damage that occurs on the property, as well as making sure that all essential amenities are working properly. If something goes wrong with the property, tenants have a right to contact their landlord and demand that the issue be fixed. Failing to maintain a rental property can lead to costly legal penalties.
Which Law Applies
If something in the apartment is not working properly, or if there is something that needs to be fixed, a tenant has the right to ask the landlord to take care of it. An important step for tenants is to figure out if the Chicago Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance covers their property. Here's a step-by-step:
- RLTO - If a tenant is covered by the Chicago RLTO, a tenant can read more about their rights using this link or the proper link at the bottom of the page.
- Non-RLTO - If a tenant is not covered by the RLTO, they still have rights under general Illinois law. Visit our other article on the topic by using this link or the proper link at the bottom of the page.
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.