Getting out of lease

[JenM]

My son signed a 12 month lease in Illinois because the landlord told him it was a safe neighborhood. He is white in an all black neighborhood he now has found out. He is not discriminatory at all, but does not feel safe. 3 weeks after moving in he was robbed. The landlord put on deadbolts and an alarm system in, but he is still very nervous. He asked to get out of the lease so he could move somewhere safer, but the landlord said he would have to sublease. He is new to Illinois. The other day his girlfriend went to the grocery store and was confronted on her way out by a black women telling her she was white and didn't belong there. Now they are all scared, but cannot afford to pay rent for 2 places.

 

[Duranie]

Unless he sublets he is probably out of luck. Didn't he know it was a bad part of town? The landlord has already put in an alarm system, doing more than what is required.

 

[JenM]

Getting out of the lease

He did not know this was a bad neighborhood as he came from Michigan. He isn't very old. He wasn't familiar with the area and was relying on the landlord who rents to another employee he works with but lives in a better neighborhood. I am worried for their safety. The good news is that it is getting cold and hopefully it will be very cold hard winter to keep people off the streets. Thank you!

 

[Gail_in_Georgia]

It is up to the potential tenant to check out the neighborhood prior to signing a lease.

It is actually illegal for a landlord to describe a neighborhood in terms that describe the racial mix of such.

Gail

 

[JenM]

Thank you. I appreciate the input.