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Ever heard of a legal facepalm?
It's when you do something dumb.
So silly that even your mom would text you an eye-roll emoji.
And it's even worse when the right move was just a playbook away.
Yet here you are.
Floating illegal lease terms like they're harmless party balloons.
Dang...
Here's a wild story:
A Tenant moves in.
They seem nice.
Pay on time.
Everything's peachy.
Then one day, you swing by and a stranger greets you at the door.
"Uh, you are??"
"Oh, I live here — renting a room from a buddy."
Turns out, your Tenant thought it'd be a swell idea to play landlord....
You've got a new Tenant.
But they didn't come through the front door.
Not with your permission, anyway.
One day, they're just "visiting."
The next, they're setting up shop in your rental like it's a long-term Airbnb.
Mystery car in the driveway?
Uh-oh. Who dis?
Turns out, this guy was your...
It's about time.
Remember that COVID Rental Assistance form?
You know, the one you had to give tenants during evictions?
Even after folks swapped their masks for Applebee's happy hour, you still had to use the form.
Well, you can finally toss it in the trash.
It's rare that Illinois...
Alert the press.
The security deposit rules changed.
And it's doesn't hurt just the big guys anymore.
Before January 1, 2024, the Security Deposit Return Act only applied to landlords with 5 or more units.
Small fries like you?
You got a free pass.
Not anymore.
Now, before you...
You hit the landlord jackpot.
Your tenant moved out.
No damage.
The place is clean.
And there's no science experiments in the fridge.
Now, the tenant wants their security deposit back.
By law, they can get it.
Trying to keep their money means they'll get more of yours.
Good luck even...
Real sad story here:
A Landlord wanted a Tenant gone.
He heard about 5, 10, & 30 day eviction notices.
And he used the 5 Day Notice (because he wanted the Tenant out, fast).
If it were only that easy!
He used the wrong notice, for the wrong reason.
And the Judge made him start...
Everyone asks us for legal tips.
Here's a good one:
Use e-signatures on your lease.
It's fast, easy, and legally enforceable.
Which was news to one Tenant...
They said, "I didn't sign, so it's not legal."
And boy were they miffed about a digital signature!
We have an angry Tenant on line...
Our latest conspiracy theory:
Tenant's will do anything to dodge paying with cash.
Here's one:
A Tenant offers to swap sweat for the security deposit.
They'll paint walls.
Fix the squeaky door.
Even turn your jungle of a garden into a Zen retreat.
Sounds tempting, right?
You're thinking,...
The new Tenant seems chill.
And has the deposit in hand.
So you shake hands, and skip the paperwork.
It just seems, so, formal!
All is good.
But then rent goes missing.
Aunt Sally turns the couch into her new digs.
And things spiral...
So you lawyer up with the best in the...
We wish we were kidding.
But it happens all the time.
A Landlord buys a sweet rental.
And thinks they can force the existing Tenant to sign their killer lease.
There's a new sheriff in town boiz!!
Not so fast, cowboy.
You can't just waltz in and start changing the rules.
Especially...
It's been a rocky year.
And let's be real, times are getting tight.
So rent won't always hit your bank on time.
Sometimes, only part of it shows up.
Something is better than nothing, right?!?
Which gets greedy smart Landlords thinking...
Can you charge a late fee when only some of the...