No estan SOLOS!!! NO teman!! Conozcan sus Derechos!! A few weeks ago I visited with some women of Chicago Uptown Ministry to diferents apartments around Uptown of Chicago and we found cockroachin, mice, mold and apartments in bad conditions, we heard tenats testimoinies and is unbelievable how the landlord let the people live in this kind of bad conditions and the landlord doesn't do nothing, doesn't repair nothing!!! We are very ungry about that, because human rights!! This is why we are organizing this workshop and we are taking actions to support those families now. The goal of this Workshop is to educate, organize and empower tenants of the Northeast of Chicago to have a strong voice in the decisions that affect the affordability and availability of decent and safe housing. Your are cordial invited to attend to this workshop, please contact me for RSVP: Roberto Eichhorn, Organizer 773-769-3232 x 14 or by email reichhorn@onechicago.org Two hours workshop We go to talk about Tenants Rights and Landlords Responsabilities: Evictions, Apartment Conditions and repair, Security deposit, Heat and other essential Services, Leases, Building Security, Locks and the Law, Lockouts, Moving in, Moving out, Tenats Responsabilities, Mold problem and property is damaged by mold, Noise and Neighbors, etc. We go to answer the following asked questions: - What is my landlord responsible for? - What must my landlord do to maintain the condition of my apartment? - If my landlord doesn't make necessary repairs, can I use my rent to pay for these repairs? - How do I "repair and deduct"? - What if I want to repair a problem in a common area, such as a stairway or hallway? - If my landlord doesn't make necessary repairs, can I withhold a portion of my rent? - If I decide to withhold a portion of my rent, exactly how much should I withhold? - Can I terminate my lease because my landlord has failed to make necessary repairs? - How can I terminate my lease? - If my landlord doesn't make necessary repairs, can I sue her? - Can I make my landlord pay for the cost of repairing a problem I caused? - What if my landlord fails to provide me with an essential service (such as heat, electricity, or running water)? - Does my landlord have to repaint my apartment? - Can I sue my landlord if my property is damaged in her apartment? And many more asked questions too We will have child care!!!! Thank you

Sample Letter for Using Repair & Deduct Can only be used by residents of buildings covered by the Chicago Residential Landlord Tenant Ordinance. ________________________________________________________________ ______________________(Date) ______________(Date) _________________________________(Landlord Name) _________________________________(Address) _________________________________ Dear __________________________, I have the following problems in my apartment that need to be taken care of: ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ This problem constitutes a violation of the Chicago Residential Tenant Landlord Ordinance and/or my lease agreement. Therefore, I am requesting that you remedy this problem within 14 days. If the problem is not fixed within 14 days, I will exercise my legal rights and get the repair done on my own and deduct the cost from my rent. I will provide paid receipts to you along with my reduced rent, and the deduction will not exceed the legal maximum of $500 (or one-half of the monthly rent, whichever is greater), but not to exceed one month's rent. Thank you. Sincerely, ________________________(Your Name) ________________________(Address) ________________________ (Remember to make copies and send by certified mail with return receipt) This letter published by the Metropolitan Tenants Organization, 2150 S. Canalport Suite 2B2 Chicago, IL, (773) 292-4988. ________________________________________________________________ CARTA PARA HACER REPARACIONES Y DEDUCCIONES SOLO PARA RESIDENTES EN EDIFICIOS CUBIERTOS BAJO LA ORDENANZA RESIDENCIAL ENTRE PROPIETARIO E INQUILINO EN CHICAGO ________________________________________________________________ ________________ (Fecha) _________________ (Propietario) _________________ (Dirección) _________________ Estimado _____________________, En esta carta se encuentra una lista de los problemas en mi Apartamento y o edificio que se necesitan arreglar: ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ Estos problemas están en violación a la Ordenanza Residencial entre Propietario e Inquilino en Chicago. Bajo esta Ordenanza, si usted no arregla estos problemas dentro de los próximos 14 días, yo puedo hacer las reparaciones por mi cuenta y deducir mis gastos del costo del alquiler. Yo le proporcionare una copia del recibo pagado, junto con mi alquiler reducido. Mis deducciones no excederán el máximo legal de $500 (o la mitad del alquiler mensual, cual cantidad sea mayor, siempre y cuando el costo no exceda un mes de alquiler). Sinceramente, __________________________(Su Nombre) __________________________(Dirección) __________________________ ACUERDESE DE MANTENER UNA COPIA Y ENVIAR LA CARTA POR CORREO CERTIFICADO CON COMPROBANTE. ________________________________________________________________ Organización Metropolitana de Inquilinos, 2150 S. Canalport Suite 2B2 Chicago, IL, (773) 292-4988.