Fifty years ago, landlords had the upper hand in the landlord-tenant relationship.  Landlords had the law on their side.  Landlords also took liberties with the law and took advantage of their tenants.  As society has become increasingly focused on consumer protection, laws restricting a landlord's activities have become more and more prevalant.  Today's landlord must navigate a maze of laws including credit reporting and privacy law, civil rights law, contract law, and eviction law.  Many landlords are overwhelmed by the sheer number of receipts, disclosures and forms that must be signed, distributed and prepared for tenants.

Landlord-Tenant law involves more than just evictions.  At its best, it involves the preparation of a strong and fair lease agreement with all appropriate disclosures and receipts, a legal check of a tenant's references and credit, proper handling and disposition of a tenant's security deposit and proper administration of the rights and duties of the landlord and tenant during the effective term of the tenant's lease, including proper termination of the tenancy. 

In many municipalities, in addition to various statures of the State of Illinois and certain federal laws, a landlord must also comply with local municipal ordinances and building codes.  Communities with such laws are Chicago, Evanston, Mt. Prospect, Cicero, Oak Lawn and other communities (landlords should always check with thelr local municipal authority to determine if any local ordinance affects the landlord tenant relationship).  Failure to comply with these laws, codes, and ordiances can subject a landlord to severe penalties.

See our discussion of Federal Law and the Illinois Landlord

Landlords need to understand their rights, duties and obligations to their tenants.  

SERVICES AND FEES

We provide advice in multiple areas to landlords, from lease review and lease drafting to informational meetings to discuss compliance with the many laws affecting landlord.  We advise landlords in person or over the telephone, depending on our client's preference.  For landlord consulting services, we charge an hourly fee of $225 per hour plus any costs incurred.  

HOW TO GET STARTED  

The first step to obtaining the assistance you may need as a landlord is to give us a call and set up an appointment.  Please feel free to contact Richard Magnone or one of our eviction associates, Carla Fiessinger or James Tozzi at 773-399-1122. 

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DISCLAIMER This website is intended to supply general information to the public. Although the information is generally accurate, it cannot be guaranteed. The nature of Legislation is that the law can change quickly and visitors should always insure that legal information is accurate before acting.  Nothing herein creates a landlord tenant relationship and the information contained in this website should not be construed as legal advice upon which a reader can rely.  The law and customs in your jurisdiction may be different. This information is necessarily brief and may or may not apply to your situation. In all cases, PLEASE, consult a lawyer before acting.

This website is intended to be advertising, and not solicitation, or legal advice. Thus, the reader should not consider this information to be an invitation for an attorney-client relationship, should not rely on information provided herein, and should always seek the advice of competent counsel in the reader's state.

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