Chicago Renters' Rights Enforced by Class Action

     This case was filed by three tenants at two buildings under the same management.  The suit was filed against the 120-unit tower at 5200 S. Blackstone known as the "Blackwood", and also a 220-unit apartment building at 1642 E. 56th Street known as the "Windermere House."  Both properties have recently been under the same management.

     Building code enforcement citations and litigation filed against both buildings by the City was allegedly not disclosed to the plaintiffs when they entered into their leases.  The tenants all gave written notices to MAC that if it failed to provide them with written disclosure of any building code citations or cases affecting their buildings their leases would terminate 14 days after MAC got their letters.  The tenants' letters also stated that their leases were being terminated because all of their 2007 leases allegedly came with security deposit interest rates from only 2005, 2004, and 2003. 

     Allegedly, MAC only responded to one tenant's request within 14 days, and still failed to provide the case number of administrative proceedings pending against the Blackwood in the 12 months before that tenant signed his lease.  Tenants allege that MAC  violated CRLTO § 100 by failing to provide the required disclosures even after receipt of a notice pursuant to CRLTO § 110(a), thereby entitling the plaintiffs and all other renters to recover damages equal to one-month's rent plus costs and attorney fees as provided for under CRLTO § 090. 

     Also, a Mortgage and Security Agreement recorded by an owner of the Blackwood allegedly subjected the security deposits of tenants at that building to the claims of the landlord's creditor, as prohibited by RLTO § 080(a).  Security deposits of all tenants at both buildings, including all plaintiffs in this case, were returned in December of 2007.  This attorney speculates the mass refund came in response to a prior case filed in November, 2007 against the same landlord for similar alleged transgressions.

     The case still pends.  If you have information about security deposit refunds or interest, or entered into a lease without having building code violations disclosed at Windermere House Apartments in Chicago, contact mark@depositlaw.com.

ALL LANDLORDS ARE PRESUMED NOT-LIABLE UNTIL PROVEN LIABLE

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