How Can Chicago Landlords Show Grace?On March 19, 2020, in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, Chicago’s Mayor, Lori Lightfoot, now famously called upon landlords to “give tenants some grace”. While many landlord’s went along with that sentiment and showed some grace, Chicago City Council Members Matt Martin
UPDATE: Order 30 has been extended to June 27, 2020. In addition to locking all of Illinois down for another month, yesterday, Governor Pritzker signed another executive order (number 2020-30) that affects all Illinois landlords and puts a stop to evictions for the time being. The order basically rips the guts out of any reasonable ability to enforce a lease and paves the way for tenants to stop paying rent. The original stay at home order issued by the governor had put a state-wide stop to the enforcement of residential evictions for the duration of the order. This order goes further.
What should Chicago landlords do? As a result of the premature adjournment of the City Council meeting earlier this week, Alderman Matt Martin’s rent deferral ordinance was not introduced. We have received word that the ordinance will be introduced tomorrow (Friday, April 24, 2020) at the 1:00pm City Council meeting. It is further my understanding … Read more
Ordinance Fails to Account for RealityAs promised, here’s a deeper dive into 47th Ward Alderman Matt Martin’s Rent Deferment Ordinance. I have always believed that you learn a great deal about someone’s character by observing how they act when under duress. It’s easy to “do the right thing” when things are good. But what do you do when things get tough? As a practicing attorney, I’ve been heartened to see landlords
Covid-19 Rent Relief at Landlord’s Expense ProposedWe have come into possession of an ordinance purported to be introduced to the Chicago City Council this week [UPDATE:that now appears to be introduced by Alderman Matt Martin] allowing Chicago tenants “affected by Covid-19” to stop paying rent for the duration of the Governor’s Stay at Home Order. The proposed ordinance, which can be found
UPDATE: Covid-19 Eviction Moratorium ExtendedWe 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
Ways to react to Tenants during the Coronavirus PandemicWe 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?
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.