Tenant's Rights and Responsibilities

According to the IL General Attorney, tenants are entitled to the following rights and are also required to fulfill the following responsibilities:

-You should demand a written lease to avoid any misunderstandings with your landlord.

-You must pay rent on time as agreed upon in the lease.

-You must keep the rental unit clean and undamaged.

-You are responsible for any damages beyond normal wear and tear.

-You must pay the utility bill if you are responsible (again, refer to the written lease).

-You may not alter the rental unit in any way without your landlords approval.

-You must give written notice before you plan to move out. This gives you the best chance at not losing your security deposit. (Approx 30 days notice)

-The Illinois Retaliatory Eviction Act prevents your landlord from evicting you for complaining to any governmental authority.

The best way to avoid any misunderstandings with your landlord is to maintain open and direct communication. Before moving in, it's best to take photos of each room (including any existing damage) and either email or mail these photos to him/her. Keep a copy for your records and remember to review these at the end of the lease. If your landlord does withhold any money, he must give you copies of receipts for the work done. If not, you are able to sue (in the state of IL) for the entire security deposit along with any court costs. (if your landlord, in fact, is withholding more than the cost of repairs.)

Good luck! Feel free to email me any questions, I'm more than happy to answer them. :-)

Or email any questions to Veronica.Sandoval@PrimeAnytime.com

Source: Illinois Attorney General