As a tenant, you have the right to live in an apartment that is safe for you. If something happens and the place is no longer somewhere that you can live, then your landlord will need to come and get it fixed as soon as possible. If the landlord is unwilling to fix the problem and make the place habitable, or it is such a mess that they can’t get it done, you as a tenant are allowed to leave the apartment without any of the traditional penalties that come with breaking your lease.
Uninhabitable living conditions aren't as simple as just being a little uncomfortable in the apartment. And it doesn’t mean that you can come in and demand that the landlord fixes all of the outdated stuff along the way. A small leak that left a stain on the ceiling is not going to count either. These may not be a lot of fun, but they don’t block the ability of you to spend time and live in the apartment during that time.
There is going to be a set of criteria that is considered when we look at what is habitable in an apartment. The local laws in your area will help to let you know the codes and what is allowed and what is not. It is always a good idea to take a look at some of those to figure out what is going on and whether you have a case against your landlord as well. Your local laws and codes are going to outline the exact obligations that your landlord needs to meet and the living conditions the landlord needs to maintain.
It is true that in some cases, the landlord is going to disagree on what is considered uninhabitable. But if it goes against the codes in your area, then the landlord needs to get them fixed. If they refuse, then you have the right to stop paying rent and even move out without any of the potential penalties along the way.
Come and check out our two bedroom apartment homes in Deerfield, IL and see if one of them is the home that you have been looking for. We have worked hard to provide some of the best apartments for all of our tenants and we want to make sure that they are comfortable and have all of the amenities that they need. Whether this is your first apartment or you are just ready for something new, come and take a tour of some of our units to see why they are right for you.