Searching for a disability-friendly apartment in Chicago.
August 5, 2010 2:47 PM Subscribe
Two female college students with disabilities in Chicago needing to either pay off their lease tomorrow or find suitable new housing before the end of the month.
Posting on behalf of a friend in Chicago -- I'm out in California, so input from locals would be huge. AskMe, please hope them!
"My roommate (suffering from juvenile arthritis) shattered her ankle and will be hobbling around in a cast for the next 18 months. We live 8 blocks away from the Red Line on the 3rd floor with no elevator, so she wants to move. Coincidentally, our building was bought out by another realty company, and we saw this as an opportunity to move out. The new company offered 30 days to break the lease; however, my roommate went and paid the next month's (i.e. August's) rent without realizing it would be a signal to renew the lease. Now the company is allowing us a 'deal' to come up with a month's rent *tomorrow* and vacate by the end of the month if we want out of the lease, but that would leave us with three weeks to find a suitable place during the rush before classes start with no other fallback options.
"Do we have any other option than coming up with the money for the additional month's rent by tomorrow? Our lease is until May 2011, and Illinois lease agreements state that tenants are responsible for all rent for the duration of the lease.
"I am mute so I can't call perspective landlords, and my roommate obviously has some mobility issues. We are two female college students looking for an affordable two-bedroom apartment very close (within a block or two) to public transit, and the closer to the Layola campus the better -- walking distance would be ideal though we don't feel that's a realistic expectation at this point. I will be out pounding the pavement today and tomorrow looking for apartments, but we would appreciate any advice about the paying off the lease tomorrow, apartment hunting for those with disability needs, resources to consult, or any specific leads on possible apartments in the area."
Posting on behalf of a friend in Chicago -- I'm out in California, so input from locals would be huge. AskMe, please hope them!
"My roommate (suffering from juvenile arthritis) shattered her ankle and will be hobbling around in a cast for the next 18 months. We live 8 blocks away from the Red Line on the 3rd floor with no elevator, so she wants to move. Coincidentally, our building was bought out by another realty company, and we saw this as an opportunity to move out. The new company offered 30 days to break the lease; however, my roommate went and paid the next month's (i.e. August's) rent without realizing it would be a signal to renew the lease. Now the company is allowing us a 'deal' to come up with a month's rent *tomorrow* and vacate by the end of the month if we want out of the lease, but that would leave us with three weeks to find a suitable place during the rush before classes start with no other fallback options.
"Do we have any other option than coming up with the money for the additional month's rent by tomorrow? Our lease is until May 2011, and Illinois lease agreements state that tenants are responsible for all rent for the duration of the lease.
"I am mute so I can't call perspective landlords, and my roommate obviously has some mobility issues. We are two female college students looking for an affordable two-bedroom apartment very close (within a block or two) to public transit, and the closer to the Layola campus the better -- walking distance would be ideal though we don't feel that's a realistic expectation at this point. I will be out pounding the pavement today and tomorrow looking for apartments, but we would appreciate any advice about the paying off the lease tomorrow, apartment hunting for those with disability needs, resources to consult, or any specific leads on possible apartments in the area."
Access Living, a local disability rights organization, has a housing referral service. She could also call the Disability Rights Bureau with the IL AG's office or the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities in Chicago. If they are Loyola students, I would call the campus disability office as well to see if they can provide any assistance.
Best of luck to your friends!
posted by jennyb at 3:01 PM on August 5, 2010
Best of luck to your friends!
posted by jennyb at 3:01 PM on August 5, 2010
I highly recommend calling the student disability services office at your university. This is exactly what they are there for, and if they are good, they help with housing issues in addition to academic ones. Your school may also have an off-campus housing office that can help with the legal "can I break my lease?" issues, because it sounds like they are being majorly jerked around by the new landlord.
posted by zachlipton at 3:23 PM on August 5, 2010
posted by zachlipton at 3:23 PM on August 5, 2010
Have her check the lease or other paperwork. While paying the rent might have triggered a renewal, you'll have to see whether it is a whole year renewal, or a month-to-month. If its month to month, you should be golden.
I can't think of any reason why it would be normal or even legal to ask for more money up front for a tenant to be able to move out.
posted by gjc at 3:42 PM on August 5, 2010
I can't think of any reason why it would be normal or even legal to ask for more money up front for a tenant to be able to move out.
posted by gjc at 3:42 PM on August 5, 2010
Basically, they want you to pay two months' rent for ONE month, and then kick you out? Yeah, I don't think so. Contact those folks above, get the hell out of there, and don't give them anything extra.
posted by Heretical at 9:18 PM on August 5, 2010
posted by Heretical at 9:18 PM on August 5, 2010
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Here are some links to websites which may be able to help you:
Chicago Legal Clinic
Lawyers Comittee for Better Housing
Illinois Tenants Union
Chicago Legal Aid Hotline
My advice is to talk to a lawyer and find out what your rights are in this situation. If the landlord is in violation of the law, you may be able to legally break the lease.
posted by lholladay at 2:59 PM on August 5, 2010 [1 favorite]