Rental Rights in Illinois?

Question

I have a friend who is trying to move into an apartment in Illinois and who is having some trouble. The apartment in question needed new carpet badly(previous tenant had cats) and it hadn't been replaced in over ten years. There were also some other safety issues such as bare electrical wires, a broken window, and also a possible rodent issue(there were mouse droppings & fur inside the stove). My friend had put down the deposit and the landlord said that he would replace the carpet. Well its been almost three weeks and the landlord didnt remove the carpet as he agreed he would, my friend ended up removing it himself. Since then the landlord agreed to put new down(this was almost 5 days ago) and no one had shown up to lay new carpet. Also when my friend brought the other issues to the landlords attention, the landlord stated that none of the issues were his concern. I am wondering is there some state law or better business thing that we can use or enact to get help in solving this?

Also the landlord refuses to answer his phone or his door when my friend tries to contact him. The landlord nor his associates are being compliant in any sort of attempt to reach them or hurry this repair process along. Since they live in a small town, the apartments are owned by an individual and not a corporation or real estate company. I dont know if this makes the laws harder to enforce. I have tried to look up laws for the state in regards to rental rights but all I am finding are those in question to the security deposit.

Answer 1

There is an organization in IL that will help. Meto Tenants Org.

http://www.tenants-rights.org/

Answer 2

1. Why in the name of God's Green Earth did he hand over the rent and deposit money and take the keys before the work was done?? You should NEVER hand over the money and sign the final lease agreement UNTIL all work promised has been completed. Once the LL has your money, you have no more power over them.

2. All notice to the landlord MUST be in writing. Most leases stipulate ordinary First Class Mail but I strongly recommend Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested. That way you have proof of mailing and receipt.

3. Of the items listed, only the bare wiring & broken window are safety or habitability related and potentially cause to break the lease. The mouse droppings in the stove could have been old and carpeting or lack thereof is not a habitability issue.

Answer 3

I also wonder why anyone would hand over money till these issues were taken care of. But frankly, I would have kept on looking and not even considered it.