Breaking News: Covid-19 Guidance on Landlord’s Right of Access

Posted on April 1, 2020 by Richard Magnone

Coronavirus affects Illinois lease showings

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity just released April 1, 2020 FAQ guidance with respect to essential services.  Real Estate has been defined as an essential service under the Governor’s stay in place order.  The Department issued guidance to clarify a number of questions the public has had.  One item addressed in the FAQ provides instruction from the State on real estate showings – an important issue for landlords looking to turn over their units. Continue reading →

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Cook County Circuit Court extends suspension of evictions

Posted on March 31, 2020 by Richard Magnone

UPDATE: Covid-19 Eviction Moratorium Extended

We knew we would be delayed.  That delay is getting a bit longer.  Yesterday, in a general court order, Chief Judge Tim Evans adjusted the response of the Circuit Court of Cook County by extending the stay of enforcement on eviction case.  Originally, the Sheriff’s enforcement of eviction orders was shuttered until April 14, 2020.  Under the new general order, the Sheriff has been placed on hold until Continue reading →

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Chicago Landlording in the time of Covid-19

Posted on March 27, 2020 by Richard Magnone

Ways to react to Tenants during the Coronavirus Pandemic

We are living in trying times.  People are sick.  People are out of work.  Tenants are scared.  Landlords are scared.  There is rent to pay.  There are mortgages to pay.  Everything seems uncertain.  We even read reports in the news from radical tenant’s rights activists about “rent strikes” (way to take advantage of an emergency for your own political agenda) or other “anarchist” concepts.   So, what is a Chicago landlord to do? Continue reading →

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Cook County Sheriff Suspends Eviction Enforcement

Posted on March 17, 2020 by Richard Magnone

Circuit Court General Order Halts Sheriff Evictions

On Friday, March 13, 2020, Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans entered general order 2020-01 which suspended certain operations of the Circuit Court of Cook County.  We blogged about some of the suspended operations yesterday.  We’ve now obtained a copy of the general order.  In response to the general order, the Sheriff of Cook County has been ordered by the Circuit Court of Cook County to Continue reading →

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How does the Cook County Circuit Court shutdown affect evictions?

Posted on March 16, 2020 by Richard Magnone

Eviction Uncertainty?

Covid-19 affects us all.  You have probably seen that the Cook County Circuit Court has postponed most court business for 30 days.  Today marks the last day of “regular business” for the court.  During the period from March 17 through April 15, court business will be scaled back.  What does this mean for landlords and their tenant evictions in Cook County (and some of the surrounding counties)?

The press release from the Circuit Court indicate a few things that seem to impact evictions. Continue reading →

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Richard Magnone to speak on Just Housing Ordinance

Posted on March 4, 2020 by Richard Magnone

I’m excited to have the opportunity to speak at the joint meeting of the Neighborhood Building Owners Alliance, the Community Investment Corporation, and the Northwest Side Building Coalition at their “Lunch & Learn” event on the Just Housing Ordinance on Wednesday, March 11, 2020 from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM.  More information can be found here. Continue reading →

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HUD guidance on Assistance Animals – a Breakdown

Posted on February 25, 2020 by Richard Magnone

Assistance Animals are no Joke

Have you heard the one about the landlord who wanted to ban pets in her building?  Her tenant thought that one was hilarious!  You don’t think that’s funny?  You must be a landlord.  Because of massive abuse on the part of tenants, on January 28, 2020, HUD issued long-awaited new guidance on a tenant’s right to have an animal as a reasonable accommodation under the Fair Housing Act.  We had heard that new guidance was coming.  Unfortunately, this guidance tells us a lot that we already knew and doesn’t provide the kind of help to curb abuse that we were looking for.  Let’s take a closer look. Continue reading →

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Invisible Evictions are Now a “Thing”

Posted on February 19, 2020 by Richard Magnone

Your Alderman Has A Plan and You’re Not Going to Like It

A new phrase has entered the landlord-tenant vernacular.  “Invisible Evictions”.  A few days ago, Chicago’s local neighborhood news portal, blockclubchicago.org posted a story about “Invisible Evictions” allegedly perpetrated by developers in Logan Square and Pilsen.  The thrust of the story is that developers are quietly forcing renters out of those neighborhoods.  The author is quick to point out the injustice of this situation pointing out that the tenants have not “missed a payment” nor “broken any rules”.  This sounds TERRIBLE, right?!?  How can those nasty developers do this???  I’ll tell you.  The sentiment expressed in the article is representative of the war tenants’ rights advocates are waging against developers and, quite frankly, Western culture (yes, you read that right).  It is a battle between property rights and the in vogue claim that housing is a “human right”.  Let’s look closer. Continue reading →

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Urgent Call to Action on Rent Control

Posted on February 17, 2020 by Richard Magnone

The Illinois Rental Property Owners Association has issued a call to action for today on attempts to repeal the rent control law. At the link, you will links to file a witness slip to oppose House Bill 0255.  I could explain it, but they do a great job of doing so over there, so click on the link and file a witness slip!

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County Releases Additional Information on Just Housing Amendment

Posted on February 14, 2020 by Richard Magnone

Better than Nothing

Well, we had heard rumors that the County was going to release some additional guidance on the application of the Just Housing Amendment in practice.  Earlier this week, they did just that.  The materials do not clear up many of the questions plaguing those of us “on the ground” and some of the information in the materials is contrary to the actual verbiage in the rules (so landlords need to carefully evaluate these materials).  We will try to discuss some of this in the coming days.  In the meantime, here is a link to the Cook County Human Rights Commission’s Continue reading →

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