Q: Landlord has refused to provide an address for himself or an agent. Is this legal? How can I send written notices?
I would like to send my landlord certified mail to give notice of necessary repairs. Landlord has been hostile about necessary repairs such as a broken toilet in a one bathroom apartment. He has refused to provide an address and only sends an email address, saying that he has no permanent address. How can I go about sending him notices and making sure he receives them?
A:
The Chicago Landlord Tenant Ordinance (RLTO) is the source of tenants’ rights law for those that live in the City of Chicago.
Landlords are not permitted to not identify themselves. The RLTO requires that the following be disclosed in writing to the tenant:
1. The name, address, and phone number of the owner or person authorized to manage the premises; and
2. The name address and phone number of a person authorized to act on behalf of the owner for the purpose of service of process and for the purpose of receiving notices and demands.
If the landlord does not make the proper disclosures, the tenant may terminate the lease and, if the landlord does not comply with a written demand for disclosure within 14 days, the tenant may recover one months rent or actual damages, plus attorney fees and costs.
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