CRLTO

At long last, the CRLTO Interest Rate Summary for 2015 is Available!

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FINALLY! CITY ISSUES FORM. I guess landlords were getting good at making their own forms in January to reflect the new rate of interest on security deposits.  Luckily, the City of Chicago has finally released its interest rate summary required by Section 5-12-170 of the Chicago Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (RLTO).  The summary (linked … Read more

Chicago #1 for Bedbugs Third Year in a Row

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Those bebbugs must be doing something right! The mayor will not be happy.  And maybe we have the start of a narrative about how legislation cannot fix all that ails us.  For the third year in a row, Chicago tops the charts in bedbugs.  Orkin has issued its annual “worst bedbug cities” list.  Despite passage … Read more

Chicago #1 for Bedbugs… again

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Orkin bedbug list puts Chicago on the bottom! The list published by Orkin Pest Control for the worst bedbug-infested cities again cited the City of Chicago as the number one location for bedbugs.  Chicago beat out Los Angeles; Columbus, Ohio; and Detroit to hold its grip on the top ranking for the second year in … Read more

Residential tenants have responsibilities under new Chicago Bedbug Ordinance

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chibb4The bedbug fun is not limited exclusively to the landlords.  Chicago tenants are also subject to the provisions of the ordinance.  Based on what is believed to be the text of the ordinance, Section 5-12-040 of the CRLTO has been amended to indicate that:

Every tenant must:
(a) comply with all obligations imposed specifically upon tenants by provisions of the municipal code applicable to dwelling units, including section 7-28-850; (new verbiage in bold)

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New law says Chicago landlords must exterminate bedbugs

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chibb3Prior to the enactment of the new Chicago bed bug ordinance, landlords were really only “obligated” to exterminate bedbugs when there were two or more units infested.  Now, the City leaves no doubt (although we are still awaiting the final published version of the ordinance).  The responsibility falls squarely on the landlord in cases where bedbugs are found or are suspected!  The new provisions are found in Section 7 of the Municipal Code of Chicago (Section 7-28-810 to 900).  And the penalties can be touch.  The City can fine a landlord between $300 to $1000 per day for violations of the ordinance!  Specifically, Section 7-28-830 (based upon the version of the ordinance that we have seen) requires that:

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CRLTO Amended – New section 5-12-101 imposes new bedbug education requirements

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As part of the recently passed ordinance to address bedbugs in Chicago, the Chicago Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance was amended to add a new disclosure requirement for landlords.  Brand new section 5-12-101 (this is based on the proposed ordinance – we are still awaiting a copy of the officially published ordinance) institutes yet another … Read more

Chicago passes new Bedbug ordinance

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On June 5, 2013, in addition to passing foreclosure protections for tenants, the Chicago City Council passed a bedbug measure affecting residential landlords and tenants.  The new law amends a number of sections of the Municipal Code of Chicago, including the building code and the Chicago Residential Landlord Tenant Ordinance.  I will break the measure … Read more

Illinois appellate court clarifies penalty for failure to disclose code violations under section 5-12-100

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crltolitA new Chicago Residential Landlord Tenant Ordinance opinion was just recently issued by the first district Illinois Appellate Court.  In the case Ranjha v. BJBP Properties, Inc., a tenant sued a landlord in a class action related to the landlord’s failure to disclose City of Chicago Building Code citations and violations for the twelve months prior to the lease and sought damages equal to one month’s rent or the tenant’s actual damages.

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Calculating security deposit interest payment on a one year lease per the CRLTO

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calculating security deposit interestCalculating the interest due a tenant on a security deposit held by a landlord pursuant to a tenancy governed by the Chicago Residential Landlord Tenant Ordinance should be simple enough, right?  It should be, however, because of the “high stakes” involved in the case of an incorrect calculation, landlords need to make sure the calculation is done right.

So, without much further ado, here is an example of how to calculate the interest payable to a tenant with a security deposit on a one year lease subject to CRLTO section 5-12-080(c). 

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