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Paid a lawyer $400 to look over my lease after my landlord in Logan Square tried to keep my whole deposit
So I moved out of my place near Fullerton and Milwaukee about 4 months ago and my landlord hit me with a bill for $1,800 saying I wrecked the place. I knew it was garbage because I took pictures when I moved in and the carpet was already stained and the blinds were bent from before I even got the keys. I almost just ate it because I figured fighting would cost more than the deposit, but my buddy talked me into calling a tenant rights lawyer over on Western Ave. She charged me $400 flat to review everything and write one letter citing the Chicago Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance, which I didn't even know existed. Turns out in Chicago your landlord has to give you an itemized list within 30 days and if they don't, they owe you double your deposit plus fees. Mine sent the list on day 47, which she said was an easy win, and about 3 weeks later I got a check for $2,600 without ever stepping in a courtroom. That $400 was the best money I ever spent and I still kick myself for almost letting it go. Has anyone else dealt with a landlord pulling this in Chicago, and did you bother getting a lawyer or just handle it yourself?
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taylor95716h ago
The "I almost just ate it" part hit me right in the gut because I am that guy, I have eaten so many dumb losses in my life just to avoid a fight. My sister had almost the exact same thing in Logan Square and she sat on it for two months before she even looked up the rules, which was dumb because that 30 day thing is real and the double deposit part is no joke. The one thing I would say is do not wait around like she did, because a lot of this stuff has time limits on it. Also huge respect to your buddy for pushing you, mine would have just told me to key the guy's car or something.
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