Landlord and Tenant Lawyers in Cicero

Find the right Tenant attorney in Cicero, IL

Tenant Law in Illinois

The relationship between a landlord and tenant in Cicero, Illinois can sometimes be a touchy one. Landlords and tenants are not always clear on their respective rights and responsibilities.

Both parties to a landlord/tenant relationship are governed by an extensive body of laws and regulations, defining their legal rights and obligations.

Landlord's Rights in Cicero, IL

The most basic right that landlords have is the right to be paid the agreed-upon rent by their tenant. Obviously, renting apartments is how landlords earn a living, so they are entitled to collect the rent that the tenant agreed to pay.

Landlords also have a right to be compensated for damage to the building that a tenant causes, either intentionally or negligently. Any damage caused by a tenant, besides reasonable wear and tear, can be billed, and the landlord can deduct from the tenant's security deposit to pay for repairs.

Tenant's Rights in Cicero, IL

At the most basic level, tenants have a basic right to what they're paying for: a habitable living environment. Therefore, landlords in Cicero, Illinois must ensure that the units they rent to tenants meet some basic standards for human habitation. These requirements vary from state to state, but are often fairly easy to meet. There are no legal requirements that rented units be pretty, particularly spacious, or luxurious. They simply have to be fit for human beings to live in them. To be considered "habitable," rented units must have water, electricity, some form of heating (if the local climate necessitates it), and adequate protection from the elements (proper insulation, no roof leaks, windows that close, etc.).

Tenants also have a right to ensure that the common areas of their apartment building are reasonably safe. Landlords are required to make sure that the common areas of their buildings meet Cicero, Illinois's building codes, and that there are no conditions that create unnecessary safety hazards. They are required to make, at their own expense, the necessary repairs.

Under federal and Illinois law, tenants are also entitled to protection against discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, marital status, or gender. Such discrimination can lead to severe civil penalties against the landlord. Landlords also cannot discriminate against tenants based on physical disability, and have to make reasonable accommodations for physically disabled tenants. For example, they have to allow disabled tenants to make minor physical alterations to the unit (at the tenant's expense) to make it more accessible. Now, they don't need to allow the tenants to have the building remodeled. We're just talking about things like installing handrails in the bathroom, and similar things. The landlord can, however, require tenants to restore the apartment to its original condition, at the tenant's expense, once the tenant leaves.

Finally, tenants are legally protected from arbitrary eviction. Landlords generally must have a very good reason to evict a tenant before the lease agreement reaches the end of its term (at this point, they are of course allowed to decline to renew the lease). Of course, if the tenant breaches the lease agreement (such as by failing to pay rent, damaging the property, or violating other reasonable rules the landlord has put in the lease), the landlord, like a party to any other contract, is free to terminate the agreement and evict the breaching tenant.

Can a Cicero, Illinois Landlord/Tenant Lawyer Help?

Landlords and tenants generally want to avoid conflict with one another. However, conflicts are sometimes unavoidable. If you end up in a major dispute with a landlord or a tenant, a good Cicero, Illinois landlord/tenant attorney can help.

Talk to a Real Estate Law Attorney now!

Life in Cicero

Cicero, Illinois is a city in Cook County. It has a population of approximately 80,000 people. It got its name from Cicero, New York, which was in turn named after the Roman statesman and orator Marcus Tullius Cicero.

Cicero has always been a city with a large immigrant population, the predominant makeup of which has changed over the years. The immigrant populations of Cicero have always had a major effect on the city's character.

In its early days, Cicero, Illinois was home to a large number of Czech immigrants, and other immigrants from Central and Eastern Europe.

Modernly, Cicero has seen an influx of Hispanic and Polish immigrants, who have brought elements of their respective cultures, adding even more character to an already diverse community.

Unfortunately, Cicero has been going through some pretty serious economic problems, but things are beginning to look up. Its recent population growth has led to the construction of new housing developments, creating some much-needed jobs, and it's leading to the opening of new businesses, which is always a good thing for a local economy.

If you are facing a legal problem, and live in the area, chances are good that a Cicero, Illinois lawyer can handle whatever case you might have. Cicero, Illinois lawyers live in a very diverse community, and have to deal with a large number of different legal issues, which means that many of them are very skilled.

Clients Rate LegalMatch Attorneys
(click to read reviews)

Nicholas M.
Nicholas M.

Real Estate, Housing & Property Law

Golden, CO

Carl M.
Carl M.

Real Estate, Housing & Property Law

Seattle, WA

David A.
David A.

Real Estate, Housing & Property Law

Walnut Creek, CA