City to Host 7th Annual Rents Right Expo

The Chicago Department of Community Development (DCD) and Chicago Rents Right will host the 7th Annual Rents Right Rental Housing Expo on Saturday, September 25, 2010 to inform renters and landlords of their rights and responsibilities.

The free event, to be held at Truman College, 1145 W. Wilson Ave., from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., will present dozens of exhibitors to help you get answers to questions about landlord-tenant issues and will feature workshops on various aspects of rental housing.

“Now, more than ever, it is crucial that residents understand rights and responsibilities and Rents Right Expo provides a convenient opportunity to share information on programs and services that help tenants and landlords make informed decisions,” First Deputy DCD Commissioner Ellen Sahli said. “Working with our housing partners we are committed to promoting communication and an understanding of all applicable laws and available resources.”

Various government and community agencies, developers of rental housing, banks and realtors will be on hand.  A series of Bilingual (Spanish and English) workshops will be available on topics, including fair housing, the Chicago Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance, common building code violations, laws pertaining to evictions lockouts and foreclosures and other related matters.

Representatives will also be on hand to inform renters of their rights and responsibilities when facing eviction because of a landlord foreclosure.  Through the Foreclosure Assistance Information for Renters or FAIR initiative, the City is working with its housing partners to inform renters of their rights under the law and direct renters to financial and legal resources.

The City of Chicago in partnership with organizations that represent both tenants and landlords formed the Chicago Rents Right program to educate Chicagoans about the rental process.

The City has joined with Chicago Rents Right to provide tenants and landlords with a source of help they can rely on and trust for answers about rental property questions by hosting the Rental Housing Expo.

The City and the Rents Right campaign want to encourage landlords and tenants to work together for the well being of all Chicago neighborhoods. 

For more information on the Chicago Rents Right program, call the hotline at 312/742-7368 (RENT).

For information on the Rental Housing Expo and other DCD programs, call 311.