MISINFORMATION AND CONFLICTING REPORTS
The current Coronavirus pandemic has led to a lot of misinformation and conflicting reports about rent, mortgages, and your home. Open Communities is here to answer your questions and guide you through this uncertain time.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW / FAQ'S
Q. I saw on television that I don’t have to pay my rent because of coronavirus. Is this true?
A. No. As of now, there is no rent moratorium in Illinois. If you can afford to pay your rent, you should.
Q. I lost my job and can’t pay my rent because of the coronavirus. What should I do?
A. First, contact Open Communities so we can look at your lease and let you know your rights. We can help negotiate with your landlord.
Q. My landlord is telling me that if I can’t pay my rent in full on the first, I must move out immediately. Is this legal?
A. No. In Illinois, a landlord cannot require a tenant to move without a court order. In many cases, those “orders of possession” are not being issued right now because of the virus. Contact Open Communities to find out how to proceed.
Q. I tested positive for coronavirus, and my landlord told me I have to move out to avoid spreading the virus to other tenants. What should I do?
A. Your landlord cannot legally evict you for contracting COVID, or any other disease. Please contact Open Communities for help as soon as possible.
Q. My landlord is refusing my rent payment. What should I do?
A. Keep a record of the refusal. It’s extremely important that you contact Open Communities for help as soon as possible.
Q. I saw on the news that all mortgage payments have been suspended! Is this true?
A. Right now, foreclosures have been suspended for about 15% of all mortgages – those that are federally insured. There is no rule suspending mortgage payments as of now.
Q. I can’t afford to pay my mortgage because I lost my job. What should I do?
A. Contact Open Communities! We may be able to work out an agreement with your bank.
Q. My tenants didn’t pay their rent, and I can’t afford to pay my mortgage. Should I ask them to leave?
A. Talk to Open Communities first! We can assist you with working out an arrangement with both your tenants and your bank that reflects the realities of this unprecedented situation for everyone.
Q. I tried calling my bank, but they aren’t answering their phones. What should I do?
A. At Open Communities, we can talk to your bank for you! We have relationships with banks and their attorneys which we can use to negotiate the best result possible for you.
Comments