Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Illinois
Renters Complaint with a Landlord
My landlord promised to switch the laundry room utilities to his name when I moved into his basement apartment. He never did this and I have been paying for the electricity to run his washer/dryer and other electricity in this room for almost 4 years. Is there criminal fraud in deceiving a tenant into thinking they were not financially responsible for this, the landlord also has pay-per-use washer & dryers in this space so I have paying the fees to use the unit as well as the electricity to run this, landlord admits to knowing this.
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Renters Complaint with a Landlord
I can't say that there is a criminal case. You should post this in the criminal section. You may have a claim for the utilities. If you have a written lease, you should review it for the responsibilities of utility payments. If the lease covers this, the lease governs. If it doesn't, you can claim the oral agreement was breached.
Re: Renters Complaint with a Landlord
With a zip code in the City of Chicago, I would refer you to City Hall for answers under the city landlord/tenant ordinance.