House and high rise apartment building

House & Apartment

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Tenants' rights and rental housing

Learn about tenants' rights from rental applications and security deposits to repairs, pest control, and utilities.

Basics of public utilities during the winter
Explains the guidelines that public utility companies must follow during the winter or heating season between December 1 and the following March 31, for general consumers.
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Common eviction defenses
A tenant can use a defense (legal reason) to ask the judge to throw out an eviction case. Some eviction defenses are listed.
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Reasons a utility company may shut off service
Explains that utility companies must give you a 10 day notice before shutting off service and must have a good reason.
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Public utility service basics
Defines public utilities, explains that services must be provided equally and fairly, and gives information on resolving issues.
Guide
Unhealthy living conditions in my neighborhood
This article describes what is an unhealthy living condition and what you can do to fix the situation
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Rental living conditions
(11 resources)
Rental living conditions basics
Learn about how Illinois housing providers must maintain safe and livable conditions, tenants can be protected from retaliation for reporting concerns, and people can request rental repairs.
Guide
Lockouts and emergency rental repairs
Find out what counts as an illegal lockout and how to get emergency rental repairs in Illinois.
FAQ
Rental repair rights and landlord access
Learn about tenants' rental repair rights, including the right to repair and deduct, and when landlords can enter units for repairs.
FAQ
Dealing with pests in rental housing
Learn about how to deal with bugs, rodents, and other pests in a rental home.
FAQ
Requesting rental repairs
How to prepare for and request repairs from a housing provider, including what records to keep and finding help.
How-To
Rental repair letter
A program to make a letter to ask a landlord to repair your apartment or house.
Easy Form
Can I do anything about my noisy neighbors?
Describes what you can do if you have loud neighbors.
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Reporting building code violations in Chicago
How to report concerns about the interior or exterior of a Chicago building, and the two types of cases that can be made against building owners.
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Can I have my landlord test for lead paint?
Describes Illinois law regarding lead paint in homes
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Can my landlord start a no smoking policy after I move in?
Explains that a landlord can enforce a no smoking or no pets rule, but they must do it in a certain way.
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Renter's insurance FAQ
Frequently asked questions on this frequently overlooked form of insurance.
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Finding rental housing
(3 resources)
Sample Illinois lease
A sample lease for tenants and landlords that you can use to create your own version.
Form download
What do landlords have to tell tenants?
Statewide, there are only 4 situations that require landlords to disclose anything to tenants. Chicago landlords must do more.
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Applying for housing basics
Clarify private housing applications and lease requirements, and discover safety tips for finding legitimate rentals.
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Security deposits and fees
(12 resources)
Small claims complaint
A program to help you make the forms to sue someone for up to $10,000. It can be used to sue a landlord for a security deposit.
Easy Form
Getting or returning a security deposit
How security deposits can be used, when they have to be returned, and how a tenant can get theirs back from their landlord.
Guide
Security deposit demand letter
A program to help you demand that your former landlord return your security deposit.
Easy Form
Paying interest on security deposits
Explains when a landlord has to pay security deposit interest and how much to pay.
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Rights for renters in suburban Cook County as of June 1st, 2021
A blog post that explains the Cook County Residential Tenant Landlord Ordinance. Describes the rights tenants have under the law.
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Building sold to a new landlord
Describes the responsibilities of landlords when buildings are sold
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Security deposit complaint
A program to help you sue to get your security deposit back.
Easy Form
Starting a case to get a security deposit back
Steps to get a security deposit back by going to court from the forms you need to how the court hearing works.
How-To
Getting back a security deposit
Explains steps to get your security deposit back, including writing a demand letter.
How-To
Housing law manual (2023)
This manual for lawyers outlines the case law, regulations, and history relevant to housing, landlord-tenant law, eviction, and people in poverty. It was created by Lawrence Wood, Director of the Housing Practice Group at Legal Aid Chicago and Lecturer in Law at the University of Chicago Law School.
File download
Getting my security deposit back if the property is sold
Explains what happens to your security if your landlord sells the property.
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Deposit to hold an apartment
Describes what happens if you put a deposit down to hold an apartment.
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