Renting can really suck. So can landlords. We know.
We searched Chicago for an upstanding landlord who gets it and answers the questions tenants are too afraid to ask.
I just moved into a new building and the management won’t fix anything and never returns my calls. How can I get out of my lease?
—Kristi, Lakeview
It’s easier to sublease than to break your lease entirely. There’s a provision in the tenant ordinance that you can sublease your apartment to a “reasonable” tenant. Management could say no, but they would have to give a valid reason. Most will work with you. There’s really no point playing hardball, as it’s easy to rent an apartment to somebody else.
Why do Chicago landlords have so much beef with dogs? Everywhere either doesn’t allow them or wants a pet deposit.
—Kellye, Avondale
A bigger dog can scratch up the floor, and smaller dogs tend to bark more. Dogs barking when their owners go to work is a huge issue. Most dog owners will swear, “No, of course my dog doesn’t bark!” Then you keep getting calls from tenants saying otherwise.
My landlord has some shady dudes making major repairs in my apartment. What kind of repairs do you need permits for?
—Adam, Wicker Park
For changing a light fixture, you need an electrician by law, but no landlord is going to hire one. If there is an overhaul where utilities are being moved, like running new wires or plumbing, that’s where you need a licensed contractor. Not with general repairs though. If your landlord doesn’t respond to your complaints and you feel it’s shoddy work harming your quality of life, you should go to City Hall to file a complaint.