Comments for Metropolitan Tenants Organization http://www.tenants-rights.org tenants helping tenants improve their lives since 1981 Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:59:13 -0800 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Heat & Other Essential Services – FAQ by John Bartlett http://www.tenants-rights.org/heat-other-essential-services-faq/comment-page-1/#comment-38255 John Bartlett Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:59:13 +0000 http://mtotest.justinmassa.com/?p=323#comment-38255 You said that you signed a lease. What does the lease say about water or other utilities for that matter? Do you have any written documentation that the water was included in the rent. A landlord is not allowed to change the terms of the lease until the lease ends. I would start putting all your requests in writing so that you can document what is happening. If things get ugly and you end up going to court, the more documentation (letters to the landlord, pictures, complaints to the City, etc) the better off you will be. Another option could be to ask the landlord to buy you out of your lease. You said that you signed a lease. What does the lease say about water or other utilities for that matter? Do you have any written documentation that the water was included in the rent. A landlord is not allowed to change the terms of the lease until the lease ends. I would start putting all your requests in writing so that you can document what is happening. If things get ugly and you end up going to court, the more documentation (letters to the landlord, pictures, complaints to the City, etc) the better off you will be. Another option could be to ask the landlord to buy you out of your lease.

]]> Comment on Exceptions to the Chicago Residential Landlord Tenant Ordinance by John Bartlett http://www.tenants-rights.org/exceptions-to-the-chicago-residential-landlord-tenant-ordinance/comment-page-1/#comment-38254 John Bartlett Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:51:46 +0000 http://www.tenants-rights.org/?p=1294#comment-38254 Some State of Illinois laws apply. The landlord still must follow Chicago's Building code. Some State of Illinois laws apply. The landlord still must follow Chicago’s Building code.

]]> Comment on Chicago Residential Landlord Tenant Ordinance by John Bartlett http://www.tenants-rights.org/residential-landlord-tenant-ordinance/comment-page-1/#comment-38253 John Bartlett Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:50:11 +0000 http://mtotest.justinmassa.com/?p=420#comment-38253 This is a lockout and illegal under the law. First step is to call the polices and ask them to call the landlord and to restore you to the premises. Next step would be to contact an attorney, if the police do not help then the attorney can. If you have limited income you might try calling the Legal Assistance foundation 312-341-1070. This is a lockout and illegal under the law. First step is to call the polices and ask them to call the landlord and to restore you to the premises. Next step would be to contact an attorney, if the police do not help then the attorney can. If you have limited income you might try calling the Legal Assistance foundation 312-341-1070.

]]> Comment on Apartment Conditions and Repairs – FAQ by John Bartlett http://www.tenants-rights.org/apartment-conditions-and-repairs-faq/comment-page-1/#comment-38252 John Bartlett Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:46:12 +0000 http://mto.broadshouldersupdate.com/?p=229#comment-38252 It could matter. The landlord may try to say by accepting the check that you are waiving your rights to pursue penalties for the landlord's failure to follow the law. In this case it is definitely best to consult with an attorney before proceeding. It could matter. The landlord may try to say by accepting the check that you are waiving your rights to pursue penalties for the landlord’s failure to follow the law. In this case it is definitely best to consult with an attorney before proceeding.

]]> Comment on Tenants and Foreclosure – FAQ by John Bartlett http://www.tenants-rights.org/faq-tenants-and-foreclosure/comment-page-1/#comment-38251 John Bartlett Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:43:29 +0000 http://mtotest.justinmassa.com/?p=774#comment-38251 If you have a lease the Bank has to honor the lease which means paying the same rent until the end of the lease term. If you are on a month-to-month agreement then the bank has to give you at least a 90 day notice to terminate and you pay the same rent for that period. Make sure that any cash for keys agreement is in writing and make sure that the agreement covers such things what happens if you are a day or two late in vacating. If you have a lease the Bank has to honor the lease which means paying the same rent until the end of the lease term. If you are on a month-to-month agreement then the bank has to give you at least a 90 day notice to terminate and you pay the same rent for that period. Make sure that any cash for keys agreement is in writing and make sure that the agreement covers such things what happens if you are a day or two late in vacating.

]]> Comment on Tenants and Foreclosure – FAQ by Kelley http://www.tenants-rights.org/faq-tenants-and-foreclosure/comment-page-1/#comment-38183 Kelley Sat, 28 Jan 2012 17:44:23 +0000 http://mtotest.justinmassa.com/?p=774#comment-38183 I am a tenant of a recently forclosed condo. I did not recieve notificaiton from the owner, I just received corespondence from the bank (owns condo now). They have offered me cash for keys if I need to vacate in 30 days. The oher option is to rent (but I don't know the amount of rent) and the unit is for sale so if sold I would need to move out. Don't I have rights, 30 days is not a lot of notice!What can I do? I am a tenant of a recently forclosed condo. I did not recieve notificaiton from the owner, I just received corespondence from the bank (owns condo now). They have offered me cash for keys if I need to vacate in 30 days. The oher option is to rent (but I don’t know the amount of rent) and the unit is for sale so if sold I would need to move out.

Don’t I have rights, 30 days is not a lot of notice!What can I do?

]]> Comment on Apartment Conditions and Repairs – FAQ by Saundra http://www.tenants-rights.org/apartment-conditions-and-repairs-faq/comment-page-1/#comment-37912 Saundra Tue, 24 Jan 2012 01:02:53 +0000 http://mto.broadshouldersupdate.com/?p=229#comment-37912 Thanks. With regard to the check, I didn't actually accept it because he mailed it to me. I've never cashed it. With regards to the repairs, I can't afford to take time off from work to be home with a repairman. The list is very extensive and will take several days. I have considered requesting an attorney about the security deposit. Will it matter if I didn't cash the check? Thanks. With regard to the check, I didn’t actually accept it because he mailed it to me. I’ve never cashed it. With regards to the repairs, I can’t afford to take time off from work to be home with a repairman. The list is very extensive and will take several days. I have considered requesting an attorney about the security deposit. Will it matter if I didn’t cash the check?

]]> Comment on Apartment Conditions and Repairs – FAQ by John Bartlett http://www.tenants-rights.org/apartment-conditions-and-repairs-faq/comment-page-1/#comment-37903 John Bartlett Mon, 23 Jan 2012 20:26:48 +0000 http://mto.broadshouldersupdate.com/?p=229#comment-37903 I think that it is best to discuss this matter with an attorney. There is a possibility that by accepting the check that you may waive your rights to pursue other options regarding the interest. There are other options to pursue in regards to getting repairs completed. You may want to call 311 and request an inspection. For the repair of small items you could give the landlord a written letter stating if such and such repair is not completed within 14 days that you will hire someone to make the repair and deduct the cost from the rent. John I think that it is best to discuss this matter with an attorney. There is a possibility that by accepting the check that you may waive your rights to pursue other options regarding the interest. There are other options to pursue in regards to getting repairs completed. You may want to call 311 and request an inspection. For the repair of small items you could give the landlord a written letter stating if such and such repair is not completed within 14 days that you will hire someone to make the repair and deduct the cost from the rent.

John

]]> Comment on Apartment Conditions and Repairs – FAQ by Saundra http://www.tenants-rights.org/apartment-conditions-and-repairs-faq/comment-page-1/#comment-37818 Saundra Sun, 22 Jan 2012 06:36:48 +0000 http://mto.broadshouldersupdate.com/?p=229#comment-37818 I have lived in a rented house for 5 years. The house has been in need of many repairs and the landlord has constantly promised to make the repairs. He has often thanked me for being patient with the situation. Last year, there was a leak in the roof in the kitchen area which I brought to his attention. First he said he couldn't make the repair because of the weather (it was winter). In the spring he had to wait for the rain to stop. I was living with a bucket in my kitchen to catch the water. In June he insisted that I not pay rent until he gets the house the way I want it, but he didn't do any work on the house. In October he served me with a five day notice for non-payment of rent. We went to court, I paid the rent. During the process I learned that he should have been paying interest on my security deposit and that he should have notified me which bank was holding my deposit. Of course I brought this to his attention before going to court. He denied having a security deposit. I got showed him a copy of my check which indicates a security deposit was made and that my lease shows a security deposit. This information stopped his eviction proceedings and he agreed to accept the back rent. Now he has mailed me a check for the interest on the security deposit for the past five years. How should I handle that? Additionally, I've mailed him a list of the repairs along with a check for the current months rent and asked that they be completed within 14 days of receipt of the letter. I know he received the letter because he cashed the check. The list contained only 9 of 22 repairs needed. So far he has only completed one. What do I do next? I really need your advise. Please help. Thank You. I have lived in a rented house for 5 years. The house has been in need of many repairs and the landlord has constantly promised to make the repairs. He has often thanked me for being patient with the situation. Last year, there was a leak in the roof in the kitchen area which I brought to his attention. First he said he couldn’t make the repair because of the weather (it was winter). In the spring he had to wait for the rain to stop. I was living with a bucket in my kitchen to catch the water. In June he insisted that I not pay rent until he gets the house the way I want it, but he didn’t do any work on the house. In October he served me with a five day notice for non-payment of rent. We went to court, I paid the rent.

During the process I learned that he should have been paying interest on my security deposit and that he should have notified me which bank was holding my deposit. Of course I brought this to his attention before going to court. He denied having a security deposit. I got showed him a copy of my check which indicates a security deposit was made and that my lease shows a security deposit. This information stopped his eviction proceedings and he agreed to accept the back rent.

Now he has mailed me a check for the interest on the security deposit for the past five years. How should I handle that?

Additionally, I’ve mailed him a list of the repairs along with a check for the current months rent and asked that they be completed within 14 days of receipt of the letter. I know he received the letter because he cashed the check. The list contained only 9 of 22 repairs needed. So far he has only completed one. What do I do next?

I really need your advise. Please help.

Thank You.

]]> Comment on Chicago Residential Landlord Tenant Ordinance by April Lewis http://www.tenants-rights.org/residential-landlord-tenant-ordinance/comment-page-1/#comment-36978 April Lewis Thu, 12 Jan 2012 04:19:03 +0000 http://mtotest.justinmassa.com/?p=420#comment-36978 I am a single mother of four, one child disabled. Rented and apartment from a guy on a month to month verbal. Paid two months call guy about leaking pipes, no answer, one month later another guy comes says hes the landlord and dema.d rent. He informs me that his friend ran off with rent payments. I say repairs need to be made and after repairs ill pay. No heat leaking sink stopped up toilet. He says no rent no repairs. One month later 7 day notice certified mail. 2 weeks later water shut off, voicemail, no rent no water. Disabled daughter placed in nursery until resolved. One month after that a woman shows up, threatens leave or this gets ugly. Already ugly, my reply, take me to court. One week later, get home from school, get kids from day care, boards on windows doors and locks changed. Landlord claim. Im a squatter. My question, what do i do, no rent receipts, no written lease. My prof light and gas bill also, inspection for disabled child. And nurses on duty majority of time in home. All i wanted was some heat and a runni.g toilet. Enough space for my daughters wheelchair and a backyard, too much to ask. I am a single mother of four, one child disabled. Rented and apartment from a guy on a month to month verbal. Paid two months call guy about leaking pipes, no answer, one month later another guy comes says hes the landlord and dema.d rent. He informs me that his friend ran off with rent payments. I say repairs need to be made and after repairs ill pay. No heat leaking sink stopped up toilet. He says no rent no repairs. One month later 7 day notice certified mail. 2 weeks later water shut off, voicemail, no rent no water. Disabled daughter placed in nursery until resolved. One month after that a woman shows up, threatens leave or this gets ugly. Already ugly, my reply, take me to court. One week later, get home from school, get kids from day care, boards on windows doors and locks changed. Landlord claim. Im a squatter. My question, what do i do, no rent receipts, no written lease. My prof light and gas bill also, inspection for disabled child. And nurses on duty majority of time in home. All i wanted was some heat and a runni.g toilet. Enough space for my daughters wheelchair and a backyard, too much to ask.

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