Chicago Living Tip No. 27

one day last week, i swear, the radiators were turned off all day.  apparently, ABCD Management doesn’t realize that not all their tenants work during daylight hours (or, um, at all).  if the cost of heat is included with the rent, the landlord is required to keep the apartment at a minimum temperature during certain times of the day:

What if I do not get enough heat in the winter?

If your apartment is too cold, you should keep careful records of the temperature of your apartment. Do this three times a day every day. If your landlord is responsible for heating your apartment, and the heat is usually below the City code regulations, they you should notify your landlord in writing that the landlord must bring the heat up to the City’s regulations. The Chicago Housing Code states that between September 15 and June 1 the temperature in your apartment should be at least:

• 65 degrees at 7:30 a.m.
• 68 degrees from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
• 63 degrees from 10:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m.

If your landlord does not respond to your notice you should contact the City’s Heat Hotline at 744-5000, your local community group and a lawyer. Follow the steps described above to give a notice to your landlord and exercise your rights to remedy the problem.

Metropolitan Tenants Organization.  "Chicago Tenants Rights Pamphlets (English #3 of 3)."  6 Feb. 2005.  <http://tenant.net/Other_Areas/Illinois/mto/english3.html>.