Protecting the Rights of Consumers For Over 25 Years

Please contact us if you are a renter in Cook County or Chicago, Illinois, and your landlord:

o Fails to keep your security deposit in a bank located in the State of Illinois and provides its name and address to you in the written rental agreement or, if none exists, in a writing.

o Fails to provide a receipt for a security deposit.

o Fails to pay interest on a security deposit in cash or credit.

o Fails to return a security deposit within 45 days after the date you vacate the dwelling unit. Deductions may be made for unpaid rent, a reasonable amount necessary to repair any damage caused by the tenant or any person under the tenant's control or in the apartment with the tenant's consent, reasonable wear and tear excluded. The landlord must deliver or mail to your known address of the tenant within 30 days an itemized statement of the damages and the estimated or actual cost for repairing or replacing each item on that statement, attaching copies of the paid receipts for the repair or replacement. If estimated cost is given, the landlord shall furnish copies of paid receipts or a certification of actual costs of repairs of damage if the work was performed by the landlord's employees within 30 days from the date the statement showing estimated cost was furnished to the tenant.

If management of the building changes, the successor landlord is responsible for any security deposits and must, within 14 days from the date of such transfer, notify you that it is holding your security deposit and provide the successor landlord's name, business address, and business telephone number of the successor landlord's agent, if any.

o Fails to identify the owner or person authorized to manage the premises; and a person authorized to act for and on behalf of the owner for the purpose of service of process and for the purpose of receiving and receipting for notices and demands. Successor landlords must also comply.

o Fails to notify you of any foreclosure action against the property within seven days after service.

o Fails to notify you at the inception of a lease or renewal of any code violations which have been cited by the City of Chicago during the previous 12 months for the dwelling unit and common areas and provide notice of the pendency of any code enforcement litigation or administrative hearing proceeding affecting the dwelling unit or common area.

o Fails to notify you of any notice by the City of Chicago or any utility provider to terminate water, gas, electrical or other utility service to the dwelling unit or common areas.

o Requires you to renew a lease more than 90 days prior to the termination date of the rental agreement.

o Fails to give you at least 30 days advance notice of intent not to renew a lease or to increase the rent, if you have lived in the apartment less than 6 months.

o Fails to give you at least 60 days advance notice of intent not to renew a lease or to increase the rent, if you have lived in the apartment 6 months to 3 years.

o Fails to give you at least 120 days advance notice of intent not to renew a lease or to increase the rent, if you have lived in the apartment more than 3 years.

o Contracts for or imposes a late fee of more than $10.00 per month for the first $500.00 in monthly rent plus five percent per month for any amount in excess of $500.00 in monthly rent for the late payment of rent.

o Fails to attach a summary of the rental ordinance to the lease.