Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Illinois

Hello, I have a question about my lease.

I have been living in my house with roommates for about 9 months. I moved in specifically for off-campus housing, but was asked to sign a lease saying I would be there until August 15, which I was okay with. Since living here we have had issues with a major water leak not being repaired until too late and a huge gas leak we are forced to pay by our landlord. Because issues take so long to be resolved with our landlord, we have had our water nearly turned off twice because of an inflated water bill, and we had to scramble last minute to pay an $800 gas bill to keep it from being turned off. I cannot financially afford this house anymore because of all of the inflated bills, so I want to move out at the end of June- before my lease is up. Two former roommates who were also on the lease were removed without problem; the first for financial issues, the second for medical/financial. I have major financial problems hindering from paying rent, but my roommates are refusing to sign me off the lease unless I agree to pay July and August's rent, which I can't do any longer, and I don't think is very fair. They also demand that I find a replacement roommate, though they have just moved in someone I didn't know about, and who isn't on the lease (which is a violation of the lease). My landlord is okay with me leaving, she just needs my roommates to send a statement saying its okay. Should I be able to move without paying July/August? And does my landlord have a responsibility to pay the gas leak? Please help and thank you so much!


Asked on 6/12/14, 10:00 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Stephen Messutta

You've let a LOT of time go by. Someone will have to look at your lease to help you out. You may have missed the opportunity to properly demand that your landlord fix things. As to early move-out, there are several issues, but simply having your house mates ok it, does not exactly do the trick, because it sounds like the landlord has NOT agreed to release you but is looking for you to enter into an agreement with your house mates that they agree to pay all the rent and indemnify you from any liability under the lease for the final two months..... Find a local attorney to review your lease and help write up the agreement -- I've seen too many of these things go wrong if not properly written up. That includes a difficult landlord or two when my own child was in school.....

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Answered on 6/12/14, 10:43 am


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