Educating, advocating, and
organizing to uphold just
and integrated communities
north of Chicago, Illinois
Educating, advocating, and
organizing to uphold just
and integrated communities
north of Chicago, Illinois
www.landlordtenantproject.org consolidates information on rights, responsibilities and resources for renters and landlords in Chicago’s northern suburbs. The Project is grateful to the Woods Fund of Chicago for its underwriting support.
New! "Best Practices" for Rental Inspection Ordinances
The Interfaith Housing Center of the Northern Suburbs, together with the Sargent Shriver Center on Poverty Law, released a model rental inspection ordinance at a meeting of north suburban representatives on October 27, 2009. The goal of this "Best Practices" for Rental Inspection Ordinances is to strengthen an Illinois municipality's ability to provide for decent and safe rental housing while honoring the fair housing and due process rights of tenants.
Are you having a disagreement with your landlord about your rent, security deposit, needed repairs or other issues?
If you live in one of the 16 communities in our service area in the northern suburbs of Chicago, we may be able to help.
Interfaith Housing Center has the facts on tenants’ rights. We can provide you with the information and referrals you need.
Interfaith also encourages landlords throughout its service area to rent to individuals and families with Section 8/Housing Choice Vouchers. Find out how landlords can participate in the Section 8/Housing Choice Voucher Program.
The following "self-help" Fact Sheets can be downloaded and represent our most frequently-asked questions:
Tenants' due process rights are protected under state and local laws -- from heating season requirements, to occupancy codes, to property maintenance, to entry. If you are a tenant with concerns about your landlord, contact your local municipality first. You cannot be evicted without a court order. Call 911 immediately if you feel you are being illegally locked out.
We’re not lawyers. But as housing advocates, we can help resolve your landlord/tenant concerns.
In many cases, the Interfaith Housing Center will send a letter to the landlord, requesting a meeting. We find that many disputes can be settled when the renter and the landlord sit down with us and discuss the situation in an open and safe environment. Both tenants and landlords have rights.
July 2009: With Interfaith's support, 47 tenants of the Northshore Estates apartment complex in Highwood organize to express their concerns before the Mayor and City Manager.
Tenants living in multi-family buildings have the right to organize into associations to advocate for their rights.
If residents feel their rights have been denied or requests for repairs systemically ignored, Interfaith staff can help tenants, mobile home residents, or owners in neglected complexes to organize into an association to advocate collectively and from a position of strength before their landlords, property managers, or municipalities. Where necessary, Interfaith can also assist in obtaining outside legal help. For more detail on Interfaith's community organizing work and accomplishments, go to Community Organizing.
Send This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call Brendan Saunders, Director of Organizing & Advocacy, (847-501-4352, ext. 402) for more information.
