Back story: Illinois
Landlord tried to change thr date my lease ended from August to June. Lied in a letter staying i volunteered to leave in June. I never did this as 1. I never wanted to 2. Im divorced and would need my ex husband's okay to move out of state 3. I didnt have any place locally I'd be able to move to ad very low income. After I told her I'd confirmed with my attorney (I needed for the move with my son) that she could not just change thr date AND that I never said such a thing, I had till the end of my lease
I moved out August but due to many things (time, anxiety, depression, no help to pack everything, doing it solo, situation with HOA, etc), I was unable to take everything. This move was and still is very traumatic.
We reached out to her a day later (August) to go back and get what was left. (It was obvious these were not abandoned-she knew me personally). She was fine with it and we made plans to get the items on the 19th of August. Like, my step mother cancelled and rearranged clients. She started acting suspicious. Kept bringing up my attorney and accusing me of questioning the validity of her non profit (more on that later/charity tax fraud) to my step.
Then insisted that communication be through my attorney even though she'd been communicating with me outside of my attorney.
Side long story short. Lease was up August 1. She tried to say I "graciously " decided to end my lease end of June literally trying to give me only 30 days to vacate as she couldn't evict me due to the moratorium still in place. Bc I am divorced and have a child and had nowhere to go but out of state to live w my dad & step , I had to retain my attorney for leaving the state with my child. When this came up, I asked my attorney about it bc I knew it was illegal and knew bc the eviction moratorium was still in place, she couldn't evict me. And no, I was a great tenant. She crossed boundaries (demanding I tell her my exact plans for summer) and I didn't comply. It actually drove me to several panic attacks. So I told her communication should be through my attorney. Which she did not do.
Okay, so she communicates w my attorney (expenses I did not have but what could I do?) and come up w the 29th weekend of August. When plans are getting finalized she sends some contract to my attorney asking me to pay a deposit, then for deep cleaning, and for rent totaling over 2500.00. I refused bc those were all things I would've done the weekend of the 19th. Plus, the lease I signed had no deposit. There was no walk through prior to move in, etc.
She got a real-estate attorney. We requested pictures of my property to make sure everything was there. Close to 2 months later, they finally send it and I know for a fact things were stolen. She did not follow any protocol (not going through the property except to remove trash [she found an old ss card]notice, time to retrieve, and kept on saying I "abandoned" the property when I called the next day to set up a time and day to retrieve it.
I also got another storage unit to try to move things out and in there but ran out of time.
She does not want me to have access to the inside if the house though her husband said there are a few boxes inside and I have a very strong feeling my remaining property is either inside or they took it.
I know what was left IN the garage let alone what was remaining in the home and I know for a fact, there would be no space in the garage and there was enough space left in the garage to put several sofas in it.
This is also costing me a lot that I don't have and it could've been over the 22nd of August.
I also have some pictures and images of some of the property large enough to be seen but aren't in any pictures. Like my ring light, 2 oscillating fans, MANY empty totes, a twin sized bed, and so much more. Things i need to work.
I asked for pictures of the damages they were accusing me of and they sent a picture of a door hinge that had come off (
) and a pre existing wrinkle in the carpet. There was no walk through prior to moving in. No deposit.
I'm having to spend money I don't have to repurchase things that I would've had at this point. Like a tv (3 in the home), computer monitor (left in the home), desk, even a new backpack for my son.
My attorney is family law so this isn't her area. This whole ordeal has taken a huge toll on me. From May till now. I also believe this whole thing has caused me to develop ptsd and I'll be seeing someone about it.
Its now October, we sent a list. We sent pictures. After they showed "proof" of my items. Both me and step mother were like yeah, thats not all of it. The attorney basically said nah, we ain't got time for that and that they are not going to show proof.
Has anyone dealt this landlord theft? Like thousands of dollars (high end items like Tiffany & Co and Hermès and tons more).
And please, before anyone comes after me saying "well you left it there". I had very limited funds, was trying to save what little money I unexpectedly had to spend, and underestimating what could fit in the container I got and could afford (and that was a crappy experience too), I HAD to leave things. I bawled that night I drove off. We'd also made arrangements 2nd week of August WITH HER so please keep that in mind. This would've been over in August but she decided to be vindictive bc I mentioned an attorney.
Original post:
Had anyone dealt with landlord theft? She just bought a 4k dollar LV bag and upgraded her suburban. And the worse of it is that she is doing this under the name of a charity and God. Any tenant attorney referrals in Illinois? Specifically DuPage County?
Sorry so long!
Anyone in Illinois know landlord protocol for if a tenant leaves property after move out (NOT ABANDONED)? I've looked it up but have only found Cook County protocol. Wondering if it would be the same thing? Landlord sends notice, gives tenant time to get items, etc.
What happens if the landlord stole property in that time?
They are refusing to submit proof that my things are there. Sent pictures and an extensive list.
They sent a picture of the garage where my things supposedly are and large items that should be visible are not there. Like 3 tvs, a twin sized bed set, head/footboard, dresser, etc. I have other valuable things there too.
It's been 3 months now and she has been stalling. We were supposed to go back in August (twice) and she stalled and stalled. This was a cross country move for me.
Was she supposed to follow some sort of protocol? My attorney is family law and I'm not sure she is pursuing this as she should.
Landlord tried to change thr date my lease ended from August to June. Lied in a letter staying i volunteered to leave in June. I never did this as 1. I never wanted to 2. Im divorced and would need my ex husband's okay to move out of state 3. I didnt have any place locally I'd be able to move to ad very low income. After I told her I'd confirmed with my attorney (I needed for the move with my son) that she could not just change thr date AND that I never said such a thing, I had till the end of my lease
I moved out August but due to many things (time, anxiety, depression, no help to pack everything, doing it solo, situation with HOA, etc), I was unable to take everything. This move was and still is very traumatic.
We reached out to her a day later (August) to go back and get what was left. (It was obvious these were not abandoned-she knew me personally). She was fine with it and we made plans to get the items on the 19th of August. Like, my step mother cancelled and rearranged clients. She started acting suspicious. Kept bringing up my attorney and accusing me of questioning the validity of her non profit (more on that later/charity tax fraud) to my step.
Then insisted that communication be through my attorney even though she'd been communicating with me outside of my attorney.
Side long story short. Lease was up August 1. She tried to say I "graciously " decided to end my lease end of June literally trying to give me only 30 days to vacate as she couldn't evict me due to the moratorium still in place. Bc I am divorced and have a child and had nowhere to go but out of state to live w my dad & step , I had to retain my attorney for leaving the state with my child. When this came up, I asked my attorney about it bc I knew it was illegal and knew bc the eviction moratorium was still in place, she couldn't evict me. And no, I was a great tenant. She crossed boundaries (demanding I tell her my exact plans for summer) and I didn't comply. It actually drove me to several panic attacks. So I told her communication should be through my attorney. Which she did not do.
Okay, so she communicates w my attorney (expenses I did not have but what could I do?) and come up w the 29th weekend of August. When plans are getting finalized she sends some contract to my attorney asking me to pay a deposit, then for deep cleaning, and for rent totaling over 2500.00. I refused bc those were all things I would've done the weekend of the 19th. Plus, the lease I signed had no deposit. There was no walk through prior to move in, etc.
She got a real-estate attorney. We requested pictures of my property to make sure everything was there. Close to 2 months later, they finally send it and I know for a fact things were stolen. She did not follow any protocol (not going through the property except to remove trash [she found an old ss card]notice, time to retrieve, and kept on saying I "abandoned" the property when I called the next day to set up a time and day to retrieve it.
I also got another storage unit to try to move things out and in there but ran out of time.
She does not want me to have access to the inside if the house though her husband said there are a few boxes inside and I have a very strong feeling my remaining property is either inside or they took it.
I know what was left IN the garage let alone what was remaining in the home and I know for a fact, there would be no space in the garage and there was enough space left in the garage to put several sofas in it.
This is also costing me a lot that I don't have and it could've been over the 22nd of August.
I also have some pictures and images of some of the property large enough to be seen but aren't in any pictures. Like my ring light, 2 oscillating fans, MANY empty totes, a twin sized bed, and so much more. Things i need to work.
I asked for pictures of the damages they were accusing me of and they sent a picture of a door hinge that had come off (
) and a pre existing wrinkle in the carpet. There was no walk through prior to moving in. No deposit.I'm having to spend money I don't have to repurchase things that I would've had at this point. Like a tv (3 in the home), computer monitor (left in the home), desk, even a new backpack for my son.
My attorney is family law so this isn't her area. This whole ordeal has taken a huge toll on me. From May till now. I also believe this whole thing has caused me to develop ptsd and I'll be seeing someone about it.
Its now October, we sent a list. We sent pictures. After they showed "proof" of my items. Both me and step mother were like yeah, thats not all of it. The attorney basically said nah, we ain't got time for that and that they are not going to show proof.
Has anyone dealt this landlord theft? Like thousands of dollars (high end items like Tiffany & Co and Hermès and tons more).
And please, before anyone comes after me saying "well you left it there". I had very limited funds, was trying to save what little money I unexpectedly had to spend, and underestimating what could fit in the container I got and could afford (and that was a crappy experience too), I HAD to leave things. I bawled that night I drove off. We'd also made arrangements 2nd week of August WITH HER so please keep that in mind. This would've been over in August but she decided to be vindictive bc I mentioned an attorney.
Original post:
Had anyone dealt with landlord theft? She just bought a 4k dollar LV bag and upgraded her suburban. And the worse of it is that she is doing this under the name of a charity and God. Any tenant attorney referrals in Illinois? Specifically DuPage County?
Sorry so long!
Anyone in Illinois know landlord protocol for if a tenant leaves property after move out (NOT ABANDONED)? I've looked it up but have only found Cook County protocol. Wondering if it would be the same thing? Landlord sends notice, gives tenant time to get items, etc.
What happens if the landlord stole property in that time?
They are refusing to submit proof that my things are there. Sent pictures and an extensive list.
They sent a picture of the garage where my things supposedly are and large items that should be visible are not there. Like 3 tvs, a twin sized bed set, head/footboard, dresser, etc. I have other valuable things there too.
It's been 3 months now and she has been stalling. We were supposed to go back in August (twice) and she stalled and stalled. This was a cross country move for me.
Was she supposed to follow some sort of protocol? My attorney is family law and I'm not sure she is pursuing this as she should.
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