Stricter Landlord Requirements

Friday, January 10, 2014

Stricter Landlord Requirements

Written by Malman Law, reviewed by Steve J. Malman.

When landlords fail to meet requirements that protect their tenants, the results can be disastrous—and even deadly. The attorneys at Malman Law, fight for victims of tenants who have been injured as a result of a landlord who provided unsafe property. Often, injuries that occur such as burns from hot water, fires due to electrical violations, and falls, trips, and slips due to neglected property can result in lifelong injuries, costing a victim thousands, if not more, in medical bills and lost wages.

A recent fire has caught the attention of authorities in the Chicagoaland area. According to reports, a Chicago home caught fire and left one person critically injured. The home had nine occupants and no working smoke detectors. Allegedly, the fire may have started from a space heater in the basement, where two occupants’ bedrooms were located separated by plywood walls with mattresses on the ground. The living conditions of the home did not comply with local laws or regulations.

According to the Chicago Tribune, Mayor Nancy Rotering called the findings “appalling.” She continued, “Our job as a city is to keep our residents safe. If some property owners do not feel that responsibility toward their tenants, it is time for us to make it their responsibility.”

City officials stated in reports that although regulations are already in place, it is difficult to ensure that they are enforced, and that most inspections are brought on by tenant complaints. City leaders are now looking into creating an ordinance for rental housing that could include mandatory landlord registration, annual inspections and steeper penalties for landlords who fail to meet these regulations.

A meeting is set for January 13^th to discuss these critical issues in Chicago at large.

If you or a loved one were injured due to a landlord’s failure to provide safe property, call Malman Law as soon as possible to speak to an attorney. The attorneys at Malman Law can begin a thorough investigation to make sure that you are fairly compensated for any injuries sustained which were caused by unsafe property. Malman Law is available 24/7 for a free consultation and legal advice.