Q: Is it legal for police to evict without notice due to a water leak?
I live and work at a hotel in Illinois under a verbal agreement with the owner that I work three hours a day in exchange for my room. Any extra work is supposed to be paid in cash. Recently, the police showed up and said that everyone had to leave the building due to a water leak in another room. I informed them that I don't have anywhere to go on such short notice, and they said 'tough.' The hotel has no official policy for such situations, and no one offered any assistance or alternatives. Is this action legal?
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A:
It sounds like you’re in a tough situation, especially with such short notice and no written agreement. In Illinois, a verbal agreement still holds some weight, and while the hotel owner may have the right to end the arrangement, there are legal procedures that need to be followed before evicting someone, even in an emergency situation like a water leak. Generally, the police cannot simply evict someone from a property without a legal process unless there's an immediate safety issue, and even then, the property owner would need to follow eviction laws.
Since you have been living there in exchange for your work, you may be considered more of a "tenant" than just an employee, which gives you some protection. The hotel owner should provide reasonable notice before eviction, and in some cases, they may need to go to court to formally evict you. If they failed to provide notice or a proper legal process, this could be an illegal eviction.
You can file a complaint with the Illinois Department of Human Services or consult a local tenant rights organization for further guidance. They may be able to help you understand your rights and how to address the situation with the hotel owner. Keep records of everything—your verbal agreement, your communication with the hotel, and any actions taken by the police or the owner.
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