Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Illinois

I moved into an apartment complex 4 years ago in Westmont Illinois. The complex is under new management under the past like 2 yrs. I got a small dog when I first moved in the complex. I paid a pet fee but the new property management claim that it didnt transfer over. They asked me for $500 for a pet deposit and like $20 for missed months. I explained to them when I resigned my lease that I was not going to pay something that I have already paid. I recently signed a 6 month lease and they didnt bother to ask me about my dog or for the money. My lease is up May 21st and now they want to add the fee to my bill. My April bill did not reflect the fee and I was late with my April's rent by 5 days. When I went to take them the April's rent with the $100 late fee that they charge for late rent they wouldnt except it because they said that I owe them $500 more for the pet. The dog has been staying with a relative since they initially asked us for it. We got summons today saying that we have to appear in court. Do they have a strong case against us? We tried several times to give them our rent and they wouldnt except it. They even did a pest control inspection to see if the dog was there and he was not.


Asked on 4/23/12, 2:13 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Stephen Messutta

Real simple: do you or don't you have any receipt for having paid the pet fee - by "receipt" I also mean that the lease you first signed made mention of it -- just because the new lease failed to carry it over may have been their mistake, but you may now have to prove you paid it in. Also, if they did not handle your security deposit properly and there are enough units in the complex, you may be entitled to 2x your security deposit back. If you're not sure of any of this it's time to take the paperwork to an attorney to review because if you win and the lease provides for it, you may be entitled to have the landlord cover your attorney fees......

Read more
Answered on 4/24/12, 9:16 am


Related Questions & Answers

More Landlord & Tenants questions and answers in Illinois