Can Landlord INCREASE Sec Deposit? Illinois

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For future reference (or if you ever see that lady who got evicted)

Rockford Legal Aid
303 North Main Street, Suite 600
Rockford, IL 61101
Local Number: (815) 962-2902
Toll Free Number: (800) 892-2985

Prairie State Legal Services

If you can, pay via money order (you can get them at Wal-Mart or the Post Office cheaply) and write down the serial number of the money order.

otherwise, keep a journal of your cash rent payments. Take photos of your apartment before you leave for your lease.

Make sure you have a business address of the landlord (heck, jot down his license plate number if he doesn’t have a real business address—as shady landlords have a tendency to disappear for a while)

good luck, hope you won’t need it.
ps from googling, Rockford has a landlord registration ordinance. So this landlord has to be registered with the city. If not, he’s breaking the law and will be liable for a fine. and if you want to distribube some righteous karma, you can anonymously report him to the IRS after you move out.

[AnaMen]

@BlueValley45

Sorry!! . . I didnt mean I’d mock up a fake receipt. Just generate my own receipt for the additional deposit money and ref the original receipt and put it in front of him to sign. He’s a wimp when confronted in front of others.

Oh, okay. That’s a good idea.

[BlueValley45]

Thanks everybody!

[appleciders]

@eschereal

wow, I want to live there :dubious:

@Dr.Drake

Given what you’ve said, it’s clear that this landlord WILL screw you over when you move out. There is zero chance of your getting any deposit back without going to court, and if you do go to court he’ll sue for nonpayment of rent… which you can’t prove you paid.

If he won’t provide a rent receipt, you should pay by check in order to have proof of payment. My guess is that he’ll insist on cash or nothing because he likes having this advantage over you. (Edit: “mocking up” a rent receipt will do more harm than good.)

Either way, move ASAP.

I don’t know about Illinois, but in my state landlords are not allowed to insist on cash payment unless the tenant has a history of passing bad checks or something like that. Many landlords and tenants here do prefer to operate with cash, but the tenant does have the right to pay with a check if she prefers in most cases. Check your local laws.

[BlueValley45]

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For future reference (or if you ever see that lady who got evicted)

Rockford Legal Aid
303 North Main Street, Suite 600
Rockford, IL 61101
Local Number: (815) 962-2902
Toll Free Number: (800) 892-2985

http://www.pslegal.org/
If you can, pay via money order (you can get them at Wal-Mart or the Post Office cheaply) and write down the serial number of the money order.

otherwise, keep a journal of your cash rent payments. Take photos of your apartment before you leave for your lease.

Make sure you have a business address of the landlord (heck, jot down his license plate number if he doesn’t have a real business address—as shady landlords have a tendency to disappear for a while)

good luck, hope you won’t need it.
ps from googling, Rockford has a landlord registration ordinance. So this landlord has to be registered with the city. If not, he’s breaking the law and will be liable for a fine. and if you want to distribube some righteous karma, you can anonymously report him to the IRS after you move out.

Thanks . . I have heard in the past about Prairie State Legal . . . and yes I mentioned the taking photos idea to someone who is moving out soon. I also just found out a former renter is suing the landlord for his deposit and illegal eviction and the case is in court in 3 weeks!! . . . . this is while the landlord has just got an ok for re-zoning from the city as a boarding house. Hmmm . . I wonder why he needs the additional income? HA!!