Issue Spotlight: Renters and Retaliation 🏘️
Dear Neighbor,
So far this year, I’ve done a couple of deeper dives on legislative topics I’m working on in Springfield. Today, I’d like to focus on a bill we just passed out of committee: the Landlord Retaliation Act.
Imagine you’re a tenant in an apartment building. It’s the middle of winter, and your heat cuts out. You call the landlord, and they say they’ll get on it, but days go by and your apartment’s still cold. Eventually, you call the city, and an inspector comes out. Three days later you find an eviction notice on your door.
Sadly, this kind of retaliation against tenants who assert their rights is all too common. Fortunately, Chicago and Cook County have passed ordinances protecting tenants in these situations, and I’ve got a bill to expand those protections statewide.
Our bill would allow tenants to offer a defense based on retaliation in an eviction case. If they can show they took a protected action (like complaining to the city about health and safety violations), the burden of proof shifts to the landlord to demonstrate that they have a legitimate, non-retaliatory reason for the eviction.
It also creates a cause of action for tenants against landlords who do retaliate. That means that if you can prove that your landlord evicted you because you took one of these protected actions, you can sue for damages. In Chicago, this provision is used very rarely, but it’s an important enforcement mechanism to make sure landlords don’t act inappropriately.
Our bill passed committee last week, and I’m hopeful to call it for a vote in the House in the next week or two.
More Springfield updates soon!
All my best,
Will
30th Ward Tree Planting Event
Join Openlands and the 30th Ward office on Saturday, April 6, from 8am to 1pm to plant trees around the Kilbourn Park neighborhood. Meet neighbors at 3501 N. Kilbourn Ave., and be sure to sign up here!
Illinois Works Bid Credit Program
Governor JB Pritzker and the IL Dept. of Commerce and Economic Opportunity have announced the IL Works Bid Credit Program as part of the state’s continued effort to increase equity and opportunity in capital construction. Eligible contractors can now earn credits to bid on future state-funded projects. Find out more information here.
Latino College Expo
NEIU is hosting the first National College Resources Foundation Latino College Expo in the Midwest! Expand your college and career horizons on Thursday, April 4 at the Main Campus P.E. Complex from 1:30-6:30pm. Meet with over 40 colleges, tour NEIU, and learn about scholarships, financial aid, and more! This is free and open to all High School, College Transfer, Adult Learners, Families. Sign up here to attend!