Landlord Legal Misconduct?

[ZENCENTRAL]

We moved into a rental property in Illinois.
The monthly rent is 1175.00 at this rate we didn't expect to have any problems. The day we moved in the problems started.They range from natural gas leaks,electrical problems, sewage backing up plus too many to list. He knew I was 5 months pregnant at the time we signed his lease. We paid rent for seven months while trying to get him to correct the problems. We haven't paid the last 2 months and now he is evicting us+ late fees,etc. We believe he has neglected his duty as a landlord. Please send your advice.

 

[ALawyer]

My advice is run, do not walk, to a lawyer who does real estate in your part of Illinois!

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This is intended as general information only and NOT LEGAL ADVICE. You are not my client, and I have no obligation of any kind to you. To retain a lawyer, go to http://AttorneyPages.com

 

[janlumenti]

I beleive that as long as you deposit the rent into an escrow acct and notify landlord that the $ is in escrow until repairs are done, you may be covered. That was what I was advised to do many yrs ago in simular circumstances, But check with local law

 

[Tracey]

DO YOU LIVE IN CHICAGO? Chicago has special laws governing residential tenancies. Your library probably has books discussing them.

In general, landlords have a duty to provide safe housing and to fix problems within a certain time period. Tenants have a duty to pay the rent. THE TENANT'S DUTY TO PAY RENT IS NOT CONTINGENT ON THE LANDLORD'S FULFILLMENT OF HIS DUTIES. You have to pay the rent! You can probably stop the eviction by filing an appearance/answer/counterclaim to the writ of restitution and paying the back rent to the court.

Call a tenant's association (try the universities) for more info and a list of lawyers who defend tenants from evictions.