Landlord and Tenant Lawyers in Naperville

Find the right Tenant attorney in Naperville, IL

Tenant Law in Illinois

The relationship between a landlord and tenant in Naperville, 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 Naperville, 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 Naperville, IL

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

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 Naperville, Illinois's building codes, and that there are no conditions that create unnecessary safety hazards. They are obligated to make, at their own expense, the proper repairs.

In the United States, and most likely under the statutes of Illinois, it is unlawful for renters or sellers of real estate to discriminate on the basis of race, gender, national origin, color, or religion. Doing so can subject a landlord to harsh civil penalties. Additionally, they cannot discriminate based on physical disabilities, either. Tenants with physical disabilities, who are otherwise qualified to rent an apartment (they are able to pay, have good credit, etc.) are entitled to make reasonable modifications to the apartment to make it more accessible to them, and the landlord generally can't bar a tenant from doing this, as long as the modifications are not too extensive, and are reversible. The landlord can, however, require the tenant to remove the modifications, at the tenant's expense, when they move out.

And lastly, most state laws prevent landlords from arbitrarily evicting tenants. If the lease agreement is for a set period of time, the landlord usually can't evict the tenant until the lease expires, without a good reason. Valid causes for eviction include unpaid rent, illegal activities on the property, damage to the building caused by the tenant, and excessive noise.

Can a Naperville, Illinois Landlord/Tenant Lawyer Help?

Landlords and tenants typically 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 Naperville, Illinois landlord/tenant attorney can help defuse arguments before they become too serious.

Talk to a Real Estate Law Attorney now!

Life in Naperville

Naperville, Illinois is a city in DuPage and Will Counties. It has a population of 140,000 people.

In 2006, Money Magazine

named Naperville, Illinois the second best place to live in the United States.

Naperville was founded in 1831 by Joseph Naper. Throughout most of its history, Naperville was a rural agricultural community. However, it began to experience a population boom in the 1960s, whichaccelerated in the 80s and 90s, with the construction of a major tollway into the Naperville, Illinois area.

Modernly, Naperville is in the heart of the Illinois Tech and Research Corridor, an area in which a large number of technology companies do business. It is sometimes called the Silicon Valley of the Midwest. Many of these companies, including BP, Nicor, and Nalco, employ large number of engineers, as well as administrative personnel. Many Naperville, Illinois lawyers are employed by these companies.

If you live in Naperville, Illinois and are in need of legal services, there are a large number of Naperville, Illinois attorneys who can help. A Naperville, Illinois lawyer will be able to advise you of your legal rights, and your chances of succeeding in your legal dispute.

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