Can I Sue My Landlord Over Problems With My Rental Property

[Thomasa Coleman]

My question involves landlord-tenant law in the State of: Chicago, Illinois

I live in the city of Chicago. I have been complaining to my landlord for months about bedbugs, my bathtub, and other things thats wrong in my apartment. I have documented every call I have made. I took pics of the bedbug bites. A neighbor asked my landlord, " Who lives like this"? And his response was, " Poor People". This has saddened me. I also have had to go to the doctor because I no longer sleep in my bedroom. I am sleeping on the couch, and the hardwood floor in my living room. Is it possible I can sue my landlord?, since he doesnt care I have sleepness nights, and backpain, and he doesnt care what his tenants have to go through. Also can I withhold his rent because of all the problems I am having?

[Mr. Knowitall]

You have lived in this unit for how long?

You have complained about bedbugs and your landlord did what in response? On how many occasions?

This is a multi-unit building? If so, do any other tenants have bedbugs?

What is wrong with your bath tub, when did you complain about it, what (if anything) was done in response and when was that response taken?

Are any of the "other things" worthy of mention?

[Thomasa Coleman]

I have lived here for a year now. Yes it is a multi unit building. Yes other tenants have bedbugs. The bathtub has paint peeling, and uncleaning black spots in it. I have been complaining for months now. Nothing was done about it. The other things is a leaky ceiling, paint peeling from my ceiling, bubble spots in the ceiling from where the upstairs radiator has leaked. I was just asking because he stated that poor people live like this, and that was a hurting statement. THANK- YOU for responding. they sent someone out, 1 time for bedbugs, that was 2 months ago.

[Mr. Knowitall]

If you live in a unit for nine months with no bedbugs, and suddenly you have bedbugs, odds are that you, somebody in your family, or a guest introduced bedbugs to your bedroom. If you can show that bedbugs could or have migrated between units, you have a stronger argument against your landlord. The landlord responded to your complaint by sending out an exterminator - and you were presumably instructed about what you needed to do with soft textiles that could contain bedbugs or eggs, right? Did you take all of those steps?

Cosmetic damage to the bath tub isn't a serious issue. If a leak is continuing, that should be fixed. Minor cosmetic issues from a repaired leak (no plaster dropping off the ceiling, holes, etc.) likely isn't a serious issue.