Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Illinois

Utilities

I am renting the first floor of a house, there are people living in the basement. The landlord said the other tenants would pay half on the utilities and insisted that I put the utility bills under my name. As two months went by and I had to pay both gas and the electric bill myself I asked the landlord about the utility situation again and if I should ask the other tenants myself. The landlord asked if I would not talk to the other tenants about the bills so I agreed and let him handle it. A week went by and the landlord said the after he talked to them they said they were moving, a couple of weeks later he told me they decided to stay. Then another week went by and I let him know I needed help because the utility bills were just as much as my rent. The landlord then said he would take fifty dollars off of my rent I said that would not do so he agreed to take off $100, still not enough but he said either take it or get your security deposit back and move. Moving sounds like my only option, but I have to pay the bills before I move.


Asked on 1/07/09, 3:29 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Nicholas Chrisos Nicholas G. Chrisos Attorney at Law

Re: Utilities

I assume your question is how to recover the money you paid for the utilities. Do you have the promise from the landlord in writing? Because that would be helpful if you have to sue him. And suing him may be the only way to recover. The utility company won't care about a side agreement with your landlord. And who knows if the other tenants ever really did agree to pay 1/2. So you'd probably have to take him to small claims court to recover. But you may want to try calling your municipality, township or county to see if there are any programs that can help you in this situation, or at least to try to report your landlord if possible.

Please understand that this reply is being posted for informational purposes only and is not intended to be legal advice. Legal advice can only be given after reviewing all the facts of your individual case and is only provided to clients of the firm after a review of all necessary documents. This communication is not intended to create a lawyer/client relationship and I specifically state to you that you are not a client of the firm.

Read more
Answered on 1/08/09, 1:32 pm


Related Questions & Answers

More Real Estate and Real Property questions and answers in Illinois