Landlord and Tenant Lawyers in Oak Lawn

Find the right Tenant attorney in Oak Lawn, IL

Tenant Law in Illinois

The relationship between a landlord and tenant in Oak Lawn, 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 Oak Lawn, IL

Most obviously, landlords have a right to collect rent from their tenants. When a tenant agrees to pay a landlord a specific amount of money for the right to occupy the landlord's property, a contract is formed. Tenants have to hold up their end of the deal.

Moreover, landlords can bill the tenant for any damage they cause to the unit, whether it was intentional or negligent. The costs of repairs for such damage can be deducted from a tenant's security deposit, but it should be noted that tenants aren't responsible for usual wear and tear, over which they have little control.

Tenant's Rights in Oak Lawn, IL

At the most basic level, tenants have a basic right to what they're paying for: a habitable living environment. Consequently, landlords in Oak Lawn, 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 criteria 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.).

Moreover, tenants are entitled to common areas which are reasonably safe and clean, and free of physical obstacles. Areas such as lobbies, hallways, stairwells, and fire escapes must comply with the building codes of Oak Lawn, Illinois. Moreover, any other unreasonable safety hazard, even if it doesn't violate a specific provision of a building code, can create liability for the landlord if it injures a tenant.

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 additionally 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.

Tenants are also legally protected from unfair eviction. Before a lease agreement expires, landlords cannot evict tenants unless they breach as significant term of the agreement by not paying rent, causing serious damage to the property, engaging in activities that are a nuisance to the other tenants, or engaging in illegal activity on the property, among other things.

Can a Oak Lawn, 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 knowledgeable Oak Lawn, Illinois landlord/tenant attorney can help.

Talk to a Real Estate Law Attorney now!

Life in Oak Lawn

Oak Lawn, IL is a village in Cook County. Its population is approximately 55,000 as of the 2000 Census.

Being in Cook County, Oak Lawn is generally considered to be a suburb of Chicago. Residents of Oak Lawn are particularly proud of their city's park system, which is composed of over 300 acres of open green space, parks, and recreational facilities, such as basketball and tennis courts, as well as baseball and soccer fields.

The downtown area of Oak Lawn, Illinois went nearly a decade without significant new construction. However, in recent years, it has undergone a major redevelopment, with the intent of revitalizing the area, and creating jobs. New condominium developments, office space, as well as many new spaces for retailers and restaurants were all added, significantly revitalizing the area.

This seems to have been effective, as the percentage of people living below the poverty line in Oak Lawn, Illinois is far lower than the national average, which is about 20%. By contrast, only 5% of the population of Oak Lawn lives below the poverty line.

There are many lawyers in and around Oak Law, Illinois who can help you with virtually any legal problem you might have. Oak Lawn, Illinois attorneys are always ready to help.

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