My question involves landlord-tenant law in the State of: Illinois
7 days ago I came home from work to no hot water. When I called my landlord they told me to call the gas company & say I smelled gas because if they came out and the water heater's pilot was out, theyd relight it. I calld the gas company, they came out, however didn't light the water heater. I called the landlord that night & told them & her response was that her husband was at work & couldn't come until Wenesday (which this happened on a Monday night) but that lighting the hot water heater was something I "should know how to do". I told her that I didn't know how & didnt feel comfortable doing this & that is why I rented because I didn't know how to do maintenance. So I had no hot water for 2 days & they came out lit the pilot & left. That same evening it was out again. I called again and was told it would be until Friday. I had a friend light the pilot wednesday evening which it went out again on Thursday morning. The landlord came Friday and lit it again. I told them that simply relighting it wasn't working and that there had to be a reason for it to keep going out. They told me they'd order a control switch and be back the next week to fix it and to keep relighting it when it goes out. It went out again on saturday, I had to relight it 2 times that day and could only get about 3 minutes of hot water before it would go out. Today is Sunday and I've had no hot water since yesterday at 6pm and I can not get the pilot to relight at all. I called the landlord and they said the soonest that they'll get the part is wednesday. I know several plumbers and called one and he said that there are over 5 plumbing supply stores here locally and there is no reason they can't get the part or even call a plumber who could bring one out. I told the landlord that I have 3 small children, one who is only 9 months old.. I can't wash bottles or bathe them and haven't been able to run a bath of hot water in a week. What can I do?? I pay $750 a month rent on time every month and have been a great tenant. I have never made a work request in the year I have lived here, I just don't have anywhere to go until I get hot water
any advice?

