Comments for Metropolitan Tenants Organization http://www.tenants-rights.org tenants helping tenants improve their lives since 1981 Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:51:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on Chicago Residential Landlords and Tenants Ordinance (RLTO) by Melissa http://www.tenants-rights.org/the-residential-landlords-and-tenants-ordinance-rlto/comment-page-1/#comment-1540 Melissa Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:51:10 +0000 http://mtotest.justinmassa.com/?p=269#comment-1540 The landlord's husband just told us AGAIN that we have to leave because he has someone who wants to move into our apartment!!!We are being intimidated daily to leave and they just say if we don't like it then to take them to court. They still refuse to give us anything in writing and we have already paid the rent for September (in person) and they accepted it. How long can we stay here? Should we contact a lawyer about this? We do not know what to do and do not know what good taking this to court would do if we do not want to live here anymore anyway because of how they are treating us.Please help! The landlord’s husband just told us AGAIN that we have to leave because he has someone who wants to move into our apartment!!!We are being intimidated daily to leave and they just say if we don’t like it then to take them to court. They still refuse to give us anything in writing and we have already paid the rent for September (in person) and they accepted it. How long can we stay here? Should we contact a lawyer about this? We do not know what to do and do not know what good taking this to court would do if we do not want to live here anymore anyway because of how they are treating us.Please help!

]]> Comment on Chicago Residential Landlords and Tenants Ordinance (RLTO) by Melissa http://www.tenants-rights.org/the-residential-landlords-and-tenants-ordinance-rlto/comment-page-1/#comment-1533 Melissa Wed, 01 Sep 2010 22:49:00 +0000 http://mtotest.justinmassa.com/?p=269#comment-1533 Also, We have packed our things to leave but have no where to go yet so can they intimidate us to leave without us being able to yet? -Melissa Also, We have packed our things to leave but have no where to go yet so can they intimidate us to leave without us being able to yet?

-Melissa

]]> Comment on Chicago Residential Landlords and Tenants Ordinance (RLTO) by Melissa http://www.tenants-rights.org/the-residential-landlords-and-tenants-ordinance-rlto/comment-page-1/#comment-1532 Melissa Wed, 01 Sep 2010 22:46:44 +0000 http://mtotest.justinmassa.com/?p=269#comment-1532 We do live in Chicago and the landlord does live in the building. There are six full apartments and a basement that they rent out to an elderly man.He has a bedroom bathroom, shower, and laundry facilities but no kitchen. They claim that they are not raising our rent but are now charging me for rent because I now have a child. They have gone as far to ask how many times a day I flush the toilet, shower, how many times I wash clothes(even though we pay to wash them)and how many extra dishes have to be washed because of my "extra" family. We have not received any written notices about the rent or about terminating tenancy because they claim that they only want the "second family" out but not my mother and her husband. They simply asked for a $700 check from them and $100 in cash from me for our last month's rent.She gave my mother a receipt for $800 though as if it was all one rent. She has not spoken to me directly or ask me for the money. she told my mother that I need to pay or move out. The landlord's husband has also asked my mother's husband several times when we are all leaving and that we need to go as soon as possible. They say "we don't have to have anyone living here if we don't like them" They give me dirty looks and her husband yelled at me saying" Pay the hundred or get out!" I have never done ANYTHING to these people and I feel so badly about the way that they are going about this. Do you have any other suggestions on what we can do? We do live in Chicago and the landlord does live in the building. There are six full apartments and a basement that they rent out to an elderly man.He has a bedroom bathroom, shower, and laundry facilities but no kitchen. They claim that they are not raising our rent but are now charging me for rent because I now have a child. They have gone as far to ask how many times a day I flush the toilet, shower, how many times I wash clothes(even though we pay to wash them)and how many extra dishes have to be washed because of my “extra” family. We have not received any written notices about the rent or about terminating tenancy because they claim that they only want the “second family” out but not my mother and her husband. They simply asked for a $700 check from them and $100 in cash from me for our last month’s rent.She gave my mother a receipt for $800 though as if it was all one rent. She has not spoken to me directly or ask me for the money. she told my mother that I need to pay or move out. The landlord’s husband has also asked my mother’s husband several times when we are all leaving and that we need to go as soon as possible. They say “we don’t have to have anyone living here if we don’t like them” They give me dirty looks and her husband yelled at me saying” Pay the hundred or get out!” I have never done ANYTHING to these people and I feel so badly about the way that they are going about this. Do you have any other suggestions on what we can do?

]]> Comment on Security Deposits – FAQ by John Bartlett http://www.tenants-rights.org/security-deposits-faq/comment-page-1/#comment-1531 John Bartlett Wed, 01 Sep 2010 19:54:25 +0000 http://mtotest.justinmassa.com/?p=317#comment-1531 Did you talk with the owner about the return of your deposit. If not then I would. What does your lease state regarding early termination? In most cases the landlord will be only be obligated to return the deposit if you leave the unit in good condition and the landlord gave you written permission to terminate the lease or if the unit is re-rented. There may be other ways to terminate the lease legally. You may want to call MTO's tenants rights hotline to learn about those cases. 773-292-4988 Did you talk with the owner about the return of your deposit. If not then I would. What does your lease state regarding early termination? In most cases the landlord will be only be obligated to return the deposit if you leave the unit in good condition and the landlord gave you written permission to terminate the lease or if the unit is re-rented. There may be other ways to terminate the lease legally. You may want to call MTO’s tenants rights hotline to learn about those cases. 773-292-4988

]]> Comment on Security Deposits – FAQ by Genine http://www.tenants-rights.org/security-deposits-faq/comment-page-1/#comment-1520 Genine Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:00:01 +0000 http://mtotest.justinmassa.com/?p=317#comment-1520 I would like to break my lease and move out of my apartment because my mother lives in Greenville MS and is going to have major surgery. She's and elderly women and i need to go and stay with her to help her. I explain this to my landlord and she said ok i would just have to give her my 30 day notice. My question is, would i get my deposit back and is she obligated to return it?? I would like to break my lease and move out of my apartment because my mother lives in Greenville MS and is going to have major surgery. She’s and elderly women and i need to go and stay with her to help her. I explain this to my landlord and she said ok i would just have to give her my 30 day notice. My question is, would i get my deposit back and is she obligated to return it??

]]> Comment on Chicago Residential Landlord Tenant Ordinance by John Bartlett http://www.tenants-rights.org/residential-landlord-tenant-ordinance/comment-page-1/#comment-1348 John Bartlett Fri, 27 Aug 2010 20:30:27 +0000 http://mtotest.justinmassa.com/?p=420#comment-1348 I have never heard of this. I do not know of any law that addresses this specific issue. What is her reason for not giving you a key? If you leave out the front door can you lock it? I have never heard of this. I do not know of any law that addresses this specific issue. What is her reason for not giving you a key? If you leave out the front door can you lock it?

]]> Comment on Evictions – FAQ by Loreen Targos http://www.tenants-rights.org/evictions-faq/comment-page-1/#comment-1346 Loreen Targos Fri, 27 Aug 2010 20:12:37 +0000 http://mtotest.justinmassa.com/?p=315#comment-1346 If your apartment is being sold normally, then your new landlord will simply have the same responsibilities as the old one. You are on a verbal or "month-to-month" lease. If your landlord would like to do anything - raise your rent, ask you to move - (s)he will have to give you a full <strong>30 days</strong> notice <strong>in writing</strong>. If your new landlord <em>calls </em>you up on Sept 5th and says you need to be out by Sept 30th, that is invalid. If your landlord provides you with a 30 day written notice dated for Sept 1st but actually hands it to you Sept 4th, it is not valid for Sept 30th - instead you'd have till the end of Oct. Keep in mind that you will have to pay rent. Also, the new landlord will be responsible for returning your security deposit. Once that valid 30 day notice is up, only then can your landlord successfully take you to eviction court and evict you. If that eviction goes through and a judgment is made against you, it may affect your ability to get approved for an apartment in the future. If you do find yourself served with eviction court papers, call MTO for a free attorney - if you go to court without an attorney, it is a near guarantee that you will lose. Call us as soon as you get served. 773.292.4988 If your apartment is being sold in some sort of foreclosure proceedings, your new landlord may not be responsible for your security deposit. But you may have at least 90 days to move out if it is a foreclosure type situation. These can get quite complicated. I recommend you call our hotline (773.292.4988 M-F 1-5pm) if you do discover that its a foreclosure case. This may also be helpful: http://www.tenants-rights.org/faq-tenants-and-foreclosure/ If your apartment is being sold normally, then your new landlord will simply have the same responsibilities as the old one. You are on a verbal or “month-to-month” lease. If your landlord would like to do anything – raise your rent, ask you to move – (s)he will have to give you a full 30 days notice in writing. If your new landlord calls you up on Sept 5th and says you need to be out by Sept 30th, that is invalid. If your landlord provides you with a 30 day written notice dated for Sept 1st but actually hands it to you Sept 4th, it is not valid for Sept 30th – instead you’d have till the end of Oct. Keep in mind that you will have to pay rent. Also, the new landlord will be responsible for returning your security deposit.

Once that valid 30 day notice is up, only then can your landlord successfully take you to eviction court and evict you. If that eviction goes through and a judgment is made against you, it may affect your ability to get approved for an apartment in the future. If you do find yourself served with eviction court papers, call MTO for a free attorney – if you go to court without an attorney, it is a near guarantee that you will lose. Call us as soon as you get served. 773.292.4988

If your apartment is being sold in some sort of foreclosure proceedings, your new landlord may not be responsible for your security deposit. But you may have at least 90 days to move out if it is a foreclosure type situation. These can get quite complicated. I recommend you call our hotline (773.292.4988 M-F 1-5pm) if you do discover that its a foreclosure case. This may also be helpful: http://www.tenants-rights.org/faq-tenants-and-foreclosure/

]]> Comment on Chicago Residential Landlord Tenant Ordinance by Loreen Targos http://www.tenants-rights.org/residential-landlord-tenant-ordinance/comment-page-1/#comment-1345 Loreen Targos Fri, 27 Aug 2010 19:58:12 +0000 http://mtotest.justinmassa.com/?p=420#comment-1345 Unfortunately, the city of Chicago has no limit on how much rent can increase. Like you, MTO would like to see some changes to that policy. http://www.tenants-rights.org/about-2/principles-of-affordability/ The best route for you immediately would be negotiation with your landlord. Long term, you may be interested in joining the Community Congress of Tenants that takes on campaign issues such as this and other pressing issues facing renters in Chicagoland. http://www.tenants-rights.org/programs/tenant-congress/ Unfortunately, the city of Chicago has no limit on how much rent can increase. Like you, MTO would like to see some changes to that policy. http://www.tenants-rights.org/about-2/principles-of-affordability/

The best route for you immediately would be negotiation with your landlord. Long term, you may be interested in joining the Community Congress of Tenants that takes on campaign issues such as this and other pressing issues facing renters in Chicagoland. http://www.tenants-rights.org/programs/tenant-congress/

]]> Comment on Evictions – FAQ by Jeff Damal http://www.tenants-rights.org/evictions-faq/comment-page-1/#comment-1341 Jeff Damal Fri, 27 Aug 2010 01:26:58 +0000 http://mtotest.justinmassa.com/?p=315#comment-1341 The apartment building that I live in is being sold. We only have a verbal lease. We also have not gotten anything in writing telling us we have to move, so we are left in the dark about when this date will occur. We are low income. We heard that the new owner wants us out at the time of sale. If the current land lord fails to notify us, would it then be inherent upon the new owner to evict us? Also, would the eviction hamper our ability to find a new apartment? How much time is usually given after a place is sold for the old tenants to vacate? The apartment building that I live in is being sold. We only have a verbal lease. We also have not gotten anything in writing telling us we have to move, so we are left in the dark about when this date will occur. We are low income. We heard that the new owner wants us out at the time of sale. If the current land lord fails to notify us, would it then be inherent upon the new owner to evict us? Also, would the eviction hamper our ability to find a new apartment? How much time is usually given after a place is sold for the old tenants to vacate?

]]> Comment on Chicago Residential Landlord Tenant Ordinance by Wendy http://www.tenants-rights.org/residential-landlord-tenant-ordinance/comment-page-1/#comment-1339 Wendy Thu, 26 Aug 2010 16:02:42 +0000 http://mtotest.justinmassa.com/?p=420#comment-1339 I've been looking for laws about natural disasters and can't find any! My building was evacuated Jul 24 2010 and re-opened Aug 14 2010. By re-open I mean there were still things on the lease that were guaranteed that were inoperable (ex. Air conditioning/heat). I just want to know my rights as a renter for a situation like this when it comes to paying rent and lessors obligations. Thank you for your time John! I’ve been looking for laws about natural disasters and can’t find any! My building was evacuated Jul 24 2010 and re-opened Aug 14 2010. By re-open I mean there were still things on the lease that were guaranteed that were inoperable (ex. Air conditioning/heat). I just want to know my rights as a renter for a situation like this when it comes to paying rent and lessors obligations. Thank you for your time John!

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