The city of Chicago has a message for slumlords: You will not be rewarded with city loans or contracts.
CBS 2’s Jim Williams reports the city council is close to passing a law that would put pressure on bad landlords to fix their property.
Read the full story here: http://cbs2chicago.com/local/slum.ordinance.Alderman.2.1429795.html
Watch the video here: http://cbs2chicago.com/video/?id=66557@wbbm.dayport.com
I HAVE BEEN CALLING THE CITY SINCE NOVEMBER 2011, IT IS NOW NOVEMBER 2012, REGARDING MY SLUMLORD, I MOVED IN HERE ON THE 1ST FLOOR IN JULY OF 2011 TO TAKE CARE OF MY 85 YEAR OLD SICKLY MOTHER THAT JUST HAD HEART SURGERY TO PUT IN A PACEMAKER (AMONG OTHER ILLNESSES) AND MY 57 YEAR OLD SISTER THAT HAD COLON CANCER, THEY LIVE ON THE 2ND FLOOR. THIS LANDLORD CONVERTED THE BASEMENT INTO AN ILLEGAL APT WHERE 4 PEOPLE LIVED, MOTHER, BOYFRIEND, GANGBANGER SON AND HIS 4 YR OLD DAUGHTER, THE GANGBANGER HAD HIS GANGBANGER FRIENDS OVER EVERYDAY WHEN THE MOTHER WENT TO WORK THE 2ND SHIFT, HE DEALT DRUGS INSIDE & OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING, THEY SMOKED POT ON A DAILY BASIS, I HAVE CALLED 911, 311, THE 11TH WARD ALDERMANS OFFICE THAT KEEPS PASSING THE BUCK TO THE 12TH WARD OFFICE SAYING THEY’RE SWITCHING OVER SOON, SO I CALLED THE 12TH WARD OFFICE, I ALSO STARTED REPORTING ONLINE TO THE MAYOR’S OFFICE. THIS LANDLORD TOLD ME I COMPLAINED TOO MUCH AND TRIED TO EVICT ME IN FEBRUARY 2012, JUDGE DISMISSED IT, AUGUST 19TH 2012 AT 2:30AM GANGBANGERS CAME BUSTING OUT THE WINDOWS IN THE BASEMENT SCREAMING FOR THE GANGBANGER IN THE BASEMENT TO COME OUT THEY WERE GONNA KILL HIM THEY SAID, I AND SEVERAL NEIGHBORS CALLED 911, THE SLUMLORD THEN TOLD THEM THEY HAVE A MONTH TO MOVE, THEY MOVED OUT IN SEPT 2012, IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT THE LANDLORD REHABBED THE BASEMENT, PUTTING IN NEW PLUMBING, BATHTUB, SHOWER, TOILET, VANITY, KITCHEN SINK AND SOME ELECTRICAL WORK, SO HERE WE GO AGAIN WITH PEOPLE CONSTANTLY DOWN THERE DRINKING, PARTYING AND PLAYING LOUD MUSIC, IT HAS BEEN A YEAR OF ME REPORTING THIS TO THE LANDLORD AND TO THE CITY, NOTHING IS BEING DONE, I AM BEING FORCED TO MOVE ONCE AGAIN BECAUSE OF SLUMLORDS. THIS IS A VERY BIG PROBLEM IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO. THE CITY GIVES TRAFFIC VIOLATIONA DN OTHER VIOLATIOINS, WHAT ABOUT THESE SLUM LANDLORDS THAT ARE DOING ALL KIND OF ILLEGAL THINGS BUT NOTHING IS BEING DONE.
When you say you have been calling the City since 2011, have you been calling 311 or the alderman’s office. Did you get a reference number from 311 operator. Exactly what has been told to you? Have you written the landlord describing the problems and threatened to reduce the rent or to do a repair and deduct.
hi close to 2yrs. ago i rented a small studio which at the time the landlord agreed that it would only be temp till he had one more apartment open that i could i get disability so i have a fix income every month well the apartment i have is actually a utility room with a bathroom the shower two people can shower at a time 1 in the shower and 1 in the doorway of the bathroom the water goes over the door the sink has big pot under cus it not connected all the way the kitchen only a ref. no stove no sink wash dishes in bathroom the livin and sleepin all in one one wall opens for everyones electric meters r in the wall so electric man always pounding and the people in building always pounding for blowing fuses i never complained i have roaches that pile on the outside of my door 2 come in now i have rats ate holes in my wall i tell the landlord why should i pay 2 live in fear to do something he said i brought the bugs and rats with me that i was trouble i have 2 be out by the first of the month instead of rent me the apt he has thank u 4 listening.everyone around here tell u im a nice person never no trouble all because i took pictures of the rat on my table and on my bed im trouble 4 complaining its not easy 2 get apt on a fix income but its ok my parents god rest there souls taught me 2 be a survivor again thank u
From your description of the unit, this does not sound like a legal unit. I understand that finding an affordable unit is not easy. You could report the landlord to the City. The City may say that this is not an an inhabitable unit and could force you to leave and on a fairly short notice. You may be able to get help by calling 311 to see if you are eligible for financial assistance if this puts you at risk of homelessneess. You may be able to sue the landlord for compensation because you were living in a unit that should not have been a unit. To do this you would need to contact an attorney. As for the landlord telling you to get out. Any termination of your rental agreement has to be in writing and it should give you at least 30 days to move. If not the notice is not valid.