Landlord and Tenant Lawyers in Belleville

Find the right Tenant attorney in Belleville, IL

Tenant Law in Illinois

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

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

Landlord's Rights in Belleville, 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.

Also, landlords have a right to be compensated for damage a tenant causes to a rented unit, either intentionally or negligently. Landlords have a right to deduct repair costs from tenants' security deposits, unless the damage was caused by usual wear and tear, for which tenants are not liable.

Tenant's Rights in Belleville, IL

Tenants, most essentially, have a right to a habitable apartment. After all, this is what they're paying for. Belleville, Illinois landlords are obligated to see that the units they rent to tenants are fit to be lived in by people. Many different defects might render an apartment uninhabitable, such as serious infestations and other problems with sanitation, lack of running water or electricity, or failure to provide adequate protection from the outside elements.

Furthermore, 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 Belleville, Illinois. Furthermore, 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 grave 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 instance, 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.

Lastly, tenants in most states have a right to be free from unfair eviction. Generally, lease agreements last for a set period of time, and both parties are bound by that contract. Landlords cannot arbitrarily evict clients while the lease is still in effect.

Can a Belleville, Illinois Landlord/Tenant Lawyer Help?

Landlords and tenants usually prefer to avoid getting into fights with one another, for obvious reasons. A harmonious relationship is profitable for everyone involved. To that end, the advice of a good Belleville, Illinois landlord/tenant attorney can help defuse arguments before they become too serious.

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Life in Belleville

Bellevilla is located in St. Clair County, Illinois. The city is known as the eighth most populated city in Illinois, with an approximate population of 45,000. For fans of the sitcom The Simpsons, Belleville is south of Springfield, Illinois. It is known for having a diverse population and great attractions for tourists to enjoy.

Some popular sites include the Labor Industry Museum, the Our Lady of the Snows National Shrine, Sky-View Drive-In, and historic Downtown Belleville.

Belleville is home to well-qualified attorneys who are able to hadnle the legal needs of residents.

Some popular residents have included Dave Butz, Buddy Ebsen, Darius Miles, Al Smith, Lorenda Starfelt, Randy Wells, and Harry Statham.

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