When it comes to security deposits many landlords simply don’t get it. They consider it their own money as soon as they receive it at the beginning of a lease. They think that security deposit money is theirs to use on regular everyday upkeep of the unit. It’s not, that’s what rent money is for. Security deposits are to protect landlords from extraordinary wear and tear and damage to a unit or in the event that a tenant doesn’t pay their rent.
This issue seems especially prevalent in Bloomington-Normal where you have many landlords renting to inexperienced college-student renters from ISU and Illinois Wesleyan. They seem to think that they can keep a tenant’s security deposit and charge them for bogus damage and nobody will do a thing about it.
Recently we had a case where a big, well-known leasing company in Bloomington kept a tenant’s $750 security deposit without justification. We were able to get that tenant a check for $1,250 and have the landlord pay that tenant’s court costs.
Don’t let landlords take advantage of you. Illinois law provides tools for getting your money back. If this has happened to you or someone you know, don’t let it. Call attorney Joe Pioletti from Pioletti Pioletti & Nichols today at 309-467-3213 for a free consultation to discuss your options.