Illinois to Give Notice to Renters

We got an eyeful on Monday when we read the Chicago Reporter's study of high-cost loans and their impact on Chicagoans. The federal government has already announced a program to help middle-class families avoid foreclosure. Now the State of Illinois is stepping in to help renters as well. A new piece of legislation, sponsored by Sen. Maggie Crotty (D-Oak Forest) will give Illinois renters living in properties where the landlord is going into foreclosure 120 days or until the end of their lease to find new housing.

As it stands now, tenants can be evicted with little or no warning. It seems that the state, however, will only go so far in protecting; by the time most landlords are facing foreclosure proceedings, maintenance and upkeep of the property are no longer a priority, and utilities may be in danger of being shut off. And this bill offers no protection for tenants in those cases.

Image via ten-nine.