IMPORTANT ALERT FOR ILLINOIS LANDLORDS

Please voice your opinion...

Remember the HB 3067 "Illinois Residential Renters Rights Act" we fought last
spring? It's up for hearing again before the subcommittee on Monday, 8/11 at
10 a.m. at the Thompson Center. We need as many calls and faxes as possible
to members of the subcommittee regarding the inequity of this bill. If any of
you are able to go to the hearing and testify, or appear, please do so.


Residential Renters' Rights and Responsibilities Act - House Bill 3067

Sponsor: Rep. William Delgado (D-3rd)

Introduced in Illinois House on February 26, 2003


HB 3067 would standardize the landlord/tenant relationship throughout the
state, including standard definitions for tenancy, setting limits for security
deposits and other fees, and providing redress for tenants.


A standardized landlord/tenant relationship would provide protection for
both parties and facilitate outreach efforts to educate people on their rights
and responsibilities. This would then allow tenants to challenge substandard
housing and slum landlords more easily, and thereby lead to increased stability
in communities.


IMPORTANT ALERT FOR ILLINOIS LANDLORDS

We need your help - see telephone numbers to call at bottom of page.


Here are some of the lowlights of this bill that has been introduced by
some very powerful tenant's rights activists.



House Bill 3067 - Residential Renters Rights Act


Points of interest within H.B. 3067


* Notice of Termination must be sent by Registered Mail in addition

to any current required methods.


* The landlord shall not charge any application fee.


* Credit Check - The landlord shall provide the prospective

leaseholder with a copy of the full report.


* Credit Check - The landlord shall not charge for a credit report if

the prospective leaseholder presents an unaltered copy of the prospective

leaseholder's credit report to the landlord and the report is less than 60
days old.


* If your lease is in violation of this Act, you have 10 days to an
amended lease. If you fail to do so, you will be subject to a fine of 2 months
rent per tenant.


* It is insufficient notice to provide a post office box address as
an address of the landlord, the person who makes repairs, the person who
collects the rent, and for receipt of process.


* If the landlord fails to provide this notice, (physical address)

the leaseholder may withhold rent until such time as the notice is provided.


* A landlord shall neither demand or receive a security deposit in
excess of one months rent.


* All security deposits shall be held in a federally insured interest
bearing account ... in this State.


* A security deposit and all interest earned on the security deposit

remain the property of the leaseholder.


* The security deposit may not be commingled with the assets of the
landlord.


* Within 30 days of the end of each 12 month rental period, the
landlord shall pay directly to the leaseholder all interest earned on the
leaseholder's deposit for that period.


* The landlord shall create an inventory checklist detailing the
condition of the dwelling.


* The landlord shall give the new tenant a copy of the checklist from
the previous tenant.


* The tenant may change the locks and refuse to give the landlord the
new keys until after move out.


* A landlord may not charge a tenant any fee in addition to rent
unless the fee is disclosed on the lease and separately initialed by the tenant.


* A lease cannot include a leaseholder paid fee for late payment of
rent or discount for early payment of rent in excess of $10 per month for the
first $500 plus 5% per month for any amount of rent in excess of $500.


* For rent increases of 5% or less, the landlord must provide 30 days
written notice.


* For rent increases of greater than 5% and up to 10% of the rental

rate, the landlord must provide 60 days written notice.


* For rent increases of more than 10% of the rental rate, the

landlord must provide a 90 day written notice..


* Landlords must accept all reasonable subleases offered by the
leaseholder.


* Return of security deposits. The security deposit and all interest
earned thereon shall be returned to the leaseholder within 10 days of the
date on which the leaseholder gave notice that the tenant vacated the unit.


* Abandonment of the dwelling unit shall be deemed to have occurred
only when: ... all tenants have been absent from the unit for a period of 21
days, or for one rental period, which ever is greater, the tenants have removed
their personal property from the premises, and the rent for the

period is unpaid...


* Right to terminate lease. After giving 2 months written notice, a

leaseholder may terminate a lease if the reason for the termination is:

(a) The purchase of residential property that will become the
leaseholder's primary residence.

(b) The need to relocate when either the leaseholder or a member of the
leaseholder's family accepts employment located more than 50 miles from the
dwelling place.

(c) The consolidation of households because of a marriage.


Below are members of the Housing and Urban Development Committee


ROLE Representative District Office Phone Fax
Party


Chairperson - Julie Hamos - Evanston - 217-782-8052 - 217-557-7204 -D

Member - Patricia Bailey - Chicago - 217-782-5971 - 217-558-6370 -D

Member - Bob A. Biggins - Elmhurst - 217-782-6578 - 217-782-5257 - R

Member - Sara Feigenholtz - Chicago - 217-782-8062 - 217-557-7203 - D

Member - Paul D. Froehlich - Schaumburg - 217-782-3725 - 217-782-1336 - R

Member - Deborah L. Graham - Oak Park - 217-782-6400 - 217-782-6400 - D

Member - Charles E. Jeffereson - Rockford - 217-782-3167 - 217-557-7654 - D

Member - Robin Kelly - Hazelcrest - 217-558-1007 - 217-557-7203 - D

Republican Spokesperson - David R. Leitch - Peoria - 217-782-8108 -

217-557-3047 -R

Vice-Chairperson - Larry McKeon - Chicago - 217-782-3835 - 217-557-6470 - D

Member - Ruth Monson - Elgin - 217-782-8020 - 217-782-8020 - R

Member - Elaine Nekritz - Des Plaines - 217-558-1004 - 217-558-3443 - D

Member - Harry Osterman - Chicago - 217-782-8088 - 217-782-6592 - D

Member - Raymond Poe - Springfield - 217-782-0044 - 217-782-0897 - R

Member - Chapin Rose - Charleston - 217-558-1006 - 217-782-1275 - R

Member - Kathleen A. Ryg - Vernon Hills - 217-782-0499 - 217-557-1934 - D

Member - Ricca Slone - Peoria - 217-782-3186 - 217-782-3186 - D

Member - Keith P. Sommer - Morton - 217-782-0221 - 217-782-1275 - R

Member - Ron Stephens - Troy - 217-782-6401 - 217-557-3047 - R

Member - Dave Winters - Rockford - 217-782-0455 - 217-782-1139 - R


Illinois Rental Property Owners is launching a grassroots effort to fight
this bill. Please make the calls and help make Illinois a safe state for good
landlords.

Thank you for your time,
Clif
[addsig]