landlord raising rent on short notice

[lauralide]

What is the name of your state? chicago,IL

We have rented here for 3 years. The landlord never had us sign a lease. After one year a neighbor called a building inspector to report the buildings ill repair. We had told him of several things that needed repair badly which he had promised to fix when we took the place but he never followed through with. He was cited and had to make several expensive repairs. Soon after, he raised our rent. We didnt question it. The following year he raised it again- in April which is the month we moved in. An inspector came out again that month, the landlord never showed until the guy was gone. I showed him the whole property-especially the basement bathroom which had fixtures hanging off the wall, busted toilet, etc. this was the way it was when we moved in and never fixed. I wasnt here for the first inspection and mostly outside repairs on the roof and siding were done.

As it turns out he never had a permit to put in the said bathroom and besides several other tasks he had to fix like tearing down a dangerously damaged shed, he had to tear out the whole bathroom. He was belidgerent with me, yelling at me that it was all my fault for letting the inspector see all the damages.He had to go to court for it and it was costing him a fortune. He told me that my husband and I and our 4 children had better start looking for a new place! Then today he hands me a self-typed form stating that the rent will be raised $250.00 starting Sept. 1.Can he raise our rent so much so fast? Anytime that he has to fix something are we going to get a rent increase? We were hoping to buy a home of our own by this spring but this will take a big chunk out of our budget. Any advice is much needed and appreciated.
Thank you, Laura
p.s. This is a house type unit. we rent the first floor unit and there is a single tenant in the upstairs unit.

 

[FarmerJ]

Call your city hall and ask for information on how much notice you are to recieve for any changes in rent amount ask if its 30 days or whole rental period and ask how the notice is to be given to tenant . and also start looking for a home now you might actually find a workable property that you can purchase now .

 

[Paul Bernstein]

From the facts as you state them, it sounds like the raising of the rent is retaliatory. Retaliation for demanding repairs and retaliation for complaining to a governmental agency about the need for repairs, is protected under both the laws of the State of Illinois and Chicago Ordinances.

The point is that it sounds like the rental increases are in retaliation and not allowable under the applicable law.

You should review the Chicago Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance and I suggest that you contact a tenants' rights organization such as the Metropolitan Tenants Organization in Chicago. 773-292-4980.

Contrary to the suggestion made in the immediately prior message, if you are covered by the Chicago Ordinance and if the increases are as they appear to be, any eviction action filed against you should be considered retaliatory and therefore dismissed by the Court.