How Can a Tenant Terminate the Lease Because of Bed Bugs in Cook County?
The Cook County Residential Tenant and Landlord Ordinance has rights and responsibilities for both tenants and landlords regarding bed bugs.
If the landlord fails to provide extermination services by a pest management professional within 10 days of the tenant’s notice, the tenant can terminate the lease. Section 42-810(D)(7) of the RTLO.
Step 1: Send the landlord written notice via email, personal delivery, or mail.
- What the notice should say: If the landlord does not exterminate the bed bugs within 2 business days after receiving the written notice, then the tenant intends to terminate the lease on a date no later than 30 days after the date of the written notice.
Step 2: Wait two business days to see if the landlord complies with the Cook County RTLO.
Step 3: If the landlord does not exterminate the bed bugs, then the tenant’s lease will terminate on the date stated in the initial written notice.
Step 4: Send a final written communication to confirm that the tenant moved out within 30 days of the initial written notice. Tenants may consider suing the landlord in the future for damages (one month's rent or actual damages) and reasonable attorney's fees.
NOTE: The tenant does not have this option if the tenant unreasonably refused to cooperate with or unreasonably delayed the extermination process.
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