A quick search for landlord-tenant issues on the internet will give you a quick idea of the problems that landlords can encounter in Chicago. Most of the search entries cover such issues as how a tenant can fight eviction proceedings. It’s absolutely correct that tenants need to be protected from abusive landlords. However, landlords also have horror stories to tell about abusive tenants.
There are numerous rules and regulation governing the actions that a landlord can take before a nonpaying tenant can be evicted. The landlord is absolutely forbidden to change the locks or turn off the utilities. That’s understandable; even today, there are landlords who will use that as a tactic to get rid of a tenant. However, there are also numerous cases of tenants remaining in their apartments for months without paying rent and seriously damaging the property, according to Landlord Tenant Lawyers.
There are procedures that a landlord must follow if it proves impossible to reach a personal agreement with the tenant. Housing Court has very specific rules that must be followed exactly in order to evict a nonpaying tenant. (If the tenant moves voluntarily, then it becomes necessary to sue in Civil Court.) In brief, the steps that must be followed in Housing Court include:
* Making a “rent demand” to the tenant
* A written rent demand must be served to the tenant in the correct manner
* A “Notice of Petition and Petition” gives the tenant 5 days to answer the Petition in Court, listing all adults living on the premises
* Bring copies of the Rent Demand, Notice of Petition and Affidavit of Service to the Clerk’s Office no later than three days after the tenant was served
* The tenant may make counterclaims against the landlord or request an inspection of the premises
* Before a tenant can be evicted, the landlord must have a judgment from the Court
* Considerably more time can pass before the tenant is finally gone
Landlords often turn to Landlord Tenant Lawyers since the longer the eviction process continues, the more complex and expensive it becomes. Starr, Bejgiert, Zink & Rowells has extensive knowledge of Real Property Law. This, combined with his property management and real estate investing experience, give him a unique insight into the concerns of a landlord. He understands how to minimize expense and delays. Like us on Facebook.
