LAF Revised: January 1, 2016 Lawrence Wood Director of the Housing Practice Group 1 [HOUSING OUTLINE] This outline was created for the Poverty and Housing Law seminar at the University of Chicago Law School. It was drafted by Lawrence Wood, Lecturer in Law. I. LAF. ........................................................................................................................................................ 13 A. Overview. ................................................................................................................................................ 13 B. LSC Rules and Restrictions. .................................................................................................................. 13 C. Practice Groups. ..................................................................................................................................... 15 D. Task Forces. ............................................................................................................................................ 15 E. Housing Practice Group. ....................................................................................................................... 16 F. Client Screening Unit. ........................................................................................................................... 17 G. Legal Server. ........................................................................................................................................... 18 H. Interviewing Clients. .............................................................................................................................. 18 I. Case Acceptance Meetings. .................................................................................................................... 19 J. Countywide Tenants’ Advocates Meetings. .......................................................................................... 19 K. Financial Assistance for Clients............................................................................................................. 20 L. Social Workers. ...................................................................................................................................... 20 III. HOUSING LAWS. ................................................................................................................................ 21 A. Federal Laws. .......................................................................................................................................... 21 B. State Laws. .............................................................................................................................................. 21 C. Local Laws. ............................................................................................................................................. 21 IV. CHICAGO RLTO. ................................................................................................................................ 23 A. History. ................................................................................................................................................... 23 B. Purpose and Scope. ................................................................................................................................ 23 C. Exclusions. .............................................................................................................................................. 23 D. Owner’s Right to Access. ....................................................................................................................... 24 E. Security Deposits. ................................................................................................................................... 24 F. Landlord’s Failure to Maintain the Premises. ....................................................................................... 25 G. Landlord’s Failure to Provide Essential Services. .................................................................................. 26 H. Curing Lease Violations ......................................................................................................................... 26 I. Abandonment. ....................................................................................................................................... 26 J. Waiver by Acceptance of Rent............................................................................................................... 26 K. Notice of Nonrenewal. ........................................................................................................................... 27 L. Prohibited Lease Provisions. .................................................................................................................. 27 M. Late Fees. ................................................................................................................................................ 27 N. Prohibition Against Retaliation. ............................................................................................................ 28 2 O. Prohibition Against Lockouts. ............................................................................................................... 28 P. RLTO Summary. .................................................................................................................................... 29 Q. Attorneys’ Fees. ...................................................................................................................................... 29 R. Interpreting the RLTO. ......................................................................................................................... 30 S. RLTO’s Constitutionality. ..................................................................................................................... 30 T. RLTO Supersedes Conflicting State Law. ............................................................................................. 30 U. Statute Of Limitations. .......................................................................................................................... 30 V. LOCKOUTS. ......................................................................................................................................... 32 A. Definition. .............................................................................................................................................. 32 B. Prohibition Against Lockouts. ............................................................................................................... 32 C. Common Defenses to Lockout Claims. ................................................................................................ 32 D. Local Prohibitions Against Lockouts..................................................................................................... 33 E. Resolving Lockouts Without Litigation. ............................................................................................... 33 F. Seeking Judicial Relief............................................................................................................................ 34 VI. EVICTION PRACTICE—TERMINATING THE TENANCY. .......................................................... 35 A. Advance Written Notice Typically Required. ....................................................................................... 35 B. Notices for Nonpayment of Rent. ......................................................................................................... 35 C. Notices for Violations other than Nonpayment of Rent. ..................................................................... 38 D. Notices to Terminate Without Good Cause. ....................................................................................... 38 E. Notices to Terminate in Foreclosed Properties. .................................................................................... 39 F. Calculating the Date on which the Notice Expires. ............................................................................. 39 G. Service. .................................................................................................................................................... 39 VII. EVICTION PRACTICE—FILING SUIT. ............................................................................................ 43 A. The Complaint. ...................................................................................................................................... 43 B. Summons. ............................................................................................................................................... 43 C. Challenging Personal Jurisdiction. ........................................................................................................ 44 VIII. EVICTION PRACTICE—THE RETURN DATE. .............................................................................. 46 A. No Answer Required Unless Ordered by Court. ................................................................................. 46 B. Venue. .................................................................................................................................................... 47 C. Jury Demands. ........................................................................................................................................ 49 D. Motions for Substitution of Judge. .......................................................................................................