What Are My Rights As a Renter In Chicago

Many organizations exist with supporting legislation to protect Chicago renters and landlords and educate them of both their rights and responsibilities. Wading through all the information may seem overwhelming. However, DoNotPay offers a product that simplifies the process to make sure you understand your rights as a renter and how to handle violations of those rights.

With 60% of Chicagoans renting their homes, building healthy relationships between tenants and landlords is essential for promoting a safe and viable city.

State and City Legislation Affecting Chicago Tenant Rights:

Due to its extensive renter population, Chicago maintains many programs related to tenants and landlords. Municipal legislation also governs most concerns surrounding tenant rights and possible violations.

Illinois lays the foundation to base programs and laws for Chicago. Check out the tenant rights and responsibilities outlined in state legislation below:

• Demand a lease in writing to avoid misunderstandings with your landlord.
• It's essential to pay your rent on time.
• You must keep the rental unit clean and undamaged beyond reasonable wear and tear.
• If dictated in the lease, you must pay the utility bills.
• You may not make changes to the unit without the landlord's permission.
• You must give written notice according to the lease to guarantee the refund of your security deposit.
• According to the Illinois Retaliatory Eviction Act, landlords may not evict tenants from complaining to any governmental authority.
• The landlord must make all necessary repairs and ensure a safe and livable unit.
• The landlord needs to follow all state and local health and housing codes.
• The landlord reserves the right to set the rent and security deposit amount.
• The landlord may charge reasonable fees for late rent payments.
• The landlord may impose appropriate rules and regulations.
• The landlord may use the security deposit to cover unpaid rent, repair damages, and clean the unit.
• If you live in the unit for six months or more, the landlord must pay interest on the security deposit.

What to Expect From Chicago Tenant Rights:

The Renters Rights Campaign represents one of the most influential organizations for the rental community in Chicago. As a collaboration between renters and landlords, the Renters Rights Campaign lays out these requirements for renters:

1. Keep the unit clean and safe.
2. Purchase the batteries to keep the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors functional and change them as instructed.
3. Do not damage the property through negligence or willful destruction.
4. Do not disturb your neighbors.

Benefits Provided to Renters by the Renters Rights Campaign:

1. Education on renters' rights and responsibilities
2. Referrals to needed training programs and resources
3. Problem-solving for renters who live in a building faced with foreclosure

How to Handle the Situation if You Feel Your Chicago Tenant Rights Become Violated:

Renters' rights violations cover a broad spectrum of incidents. Determining which department or agency to contact with your concern represents a challenge. Before deciding if your complaint warrants a violation of your tenant rights, consider this checklist:

1. Know your rights according to state and municipal legislation.
2. Don't self-evict. The eviction must go through the courts, and only the sheriff possesses the authority to convict you.
3. Get legal help through available resources.
4. Try to obtain financial help through renters programs and resources.

The Chicago Department of Housing does provide information over the phone, through email, or in person.

Of course, if you call, you may find yourself on hold for significant amounts of time. And, with the COVID-19 pandemic still posing a health risk, you may not want to spend unnecessary time around strangers. Emails also represent a challenge when waiting for responses and keeping track of the information.

Contact information for the DOH Renters Division:

The DOH handles issues such as eviction, Emergency Rent Assistance Resources or ERAR, problems with the security deposit, and discrimination issues.

How to Fight Your Chicago Tenant Rights Violation With DoNotPay?

The resources may exist to fight violations of your renters' rights. However, determining if you're dealing with a violation and who to contact about your particular issue represents a time-consuming and stressful task.

If you need to spend your time more productively, DoNotPay's product to deal with renters' rights violations takes the frustration and guesswork out of the process for you in just four easy steps:

1. Search for and open the Landlord Protection product on DoNotPay.

    

2. Select which issue applies to you.

    

3. Answer a simple set of questions so our chatbot can collect the necessary information to create your demand letter.

    

4. Choose whether you want DoNotPay to send the demand letter to your landlord or roommate on your behalf. If you already tried sending a demand letter and it didn't work, we can help you start the small claims court process.

    

And that's it. You should hear back from your landlord directly once your demands are sent.

Three Good Reasons to Use DoNotPay to Help Solve Your Renters ‘Rights Violation Problem:

Putting it succinctly, DoNotPay offers the perfect solution to fight renters' rights violations for these three reasons:

• Fast— It takes only minutes to fill out the form for DoNotPay rather than hunting for the right program or contact to deal with your problem.
• Easy—DoNotPay researches you, so you may attend to other matters.
• Successful— At DoNotPay, our experts work diligently to bring you the best possible results.

DoNotPay Provides You With Many Different Products to Help Manage Rental Concerns:

Click on the links below to see how our programs help with conflicts involving both landlords and roommates:

• How to get your security deposit back from your landlord?
• How to kick out a disruptive roommate?
• What should you do if your landlord threatens to evict you?
• Does your landlord possess the right to expel you without notice?
• How to insist your landlord takes care of needed repairs?
• Learn how long your landlord may take to return your deposit.
• Where to file a complaint against your landlord?
• Learn how to make sure you're responsible for needed repairs.
• How to sue your landlord for your security deposit?
• Learn about renter's rights.

What Other Problems Can DoNotPay Help You Solve?

DoNotPay provides products that deal with rental concerns and many other options to handle legal matters and everyday tasks.

With DoNotPay, you may set up your monthly bills, challenge fraudulent activity or billing errors on credit cards and get travel expenses refunded for canceled trips.

The links below offer a few more examples of how DoNotPay will make your life less stressful while saving you time and money:

• Learn how to make a claim in small claims court.
• Get your documents notarized.
• Locate missing money.
• Learn about the Freedom of Information Act.

For more information on the products we offer, please visit DoNotPay.