On January 21, 2015, The city of Chicago approved an ordinance to identify irresponsible residential building owners. The ordinance provides new avenues to identify residential building owners who have been repeatedly cited for failing to provide tenants with basic services and protections, such as adequate heat, hot water, and working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Landlords will find themselves on a Problem Landlords List if they have been found liable in two or more Administrative Hearing cases within a 24-month period and they have three or more serious building code violations.
“Following the tragic fire on the South Side of Chicago last September, it was clear that we needed to do more to hold landlords accountable for chronic building code violations,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “We owe this to the memory of Carliysia Clark, Carlvon Clark, Shamarion Coleman and Eri’ana Patton Smith, the children who so tragically lost their lives that day because of lack of working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and other building code violations.”
The City’s Department of Buildings (DOB), in consultation with the Department of Law (DOL), will develop and publish the Problem Landlords List and provide residential building owners an opportunity to appeal. The City will publish the first edition of the Problem Landlords List on the DOB website by Monday, January 26, 2015. DOB will send letters to landlords that appear on the list to notify them of their violations and the new penalties they may face if they do not address the building code violations and bring their buildings into compliance.
The ordinance provides for a number of penalties against identified landlords that will provide better conditions for renters, improved maintenance of their buildings and compliance with the Chicago Municipal Code. Building owners who appear on the list will not be able to obtain business licenses, receive zoning changes, acquire city land or receive financial assistance like Tax Increment Financing (TIF), or obtain building permits not related to addressing their violations. The most serious offenders, who have already been found liable by a hearing officer or a judge and have failed to comply, could be subject to forfeiture or receivership to third parties who can provide for the life safety and welfare of the residents in their buildings.
In 2014 alone, DOB completed a total of 258,027 building inspections and issued 3,362 violations for lack of or non-working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, 1,021 violations for insufficient heat, 3,980 violations for dangerous and hazardous porches, and 789 violations for rodent and insect infestations and 439 violations for lack of hot water.
If you have been cited for ANY building code violation, we can help. Bradford Miller Law, P.C. is one of the few firms that practice Building Code Violation Law. Located in downtown Chicago at 134 N. LaSalle, Suite 1040, our firm has been assisting property owners and management companies with Building Code violations for several years. For proper, experienced representation call us at 312-238-9298 for a FREE 15-minute consultation.
Bradford Miller Law, P.C. can assist you with all your real estate needs at a very reasonable rate. Our experienced Real Estate Attorneys have earned membership in the Better Business Bureau. At bradfordmillerlaw.com you will find information about our firm along with helpful real estate information.
Posted by Bradford Miller Law, P.C.
Practicing in Real Estate Law, Landlord Tenant Law, and Estate Planning
134 N. LaSalle, Suite 1040
Chicago, IL 60602
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