Learn The Law On Renting, Landlords

Sgt. Robert Tornabene knows police can respond to problems at rental properties. But he'd rather advise property owners on how to avoid the problems in the first place.

Starting Feb. 6, he'll teach a free class for property owners, called Crime-Free Housing, which addresses topics like scofflaw tenants, absentee landlords, evictions and the rights of owners and tenants.

"The classes are all based off the (village of Niles) Crime-Free Housing Ordinance," said Tornabene, of the Niles Police Department.

"It deals with problem tenants and absentee landlords."

The training covers a range of topics, from:

• how to screen a tenant
• how to deal with a tenant when issues arise 
• how to evict a tenant if that should become necessary 
• how to react if tenants, their guests or others commit criminal activity
• how to deal with code enforcement
• how to be an active property manager

"They have to understand the law to deal with tenants," Tornabene said. "This puts landlords on the same page."

Anyone from individuals who rent out a single apartment or home to property managers of multi-unit complexes are eligible to take the class. When Tornabene has taught it in the past, it has drawn a variety of types of property owners.

The class includes a brief discussion of how not to discriminate against tenants, but Tornabene said that's more the purview of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, while this class focuses more on complying with the ordinance.

Back in 2006, "the ordinance was passed because we were starting to see a trend. We wanted to have tools to assist us in dealing with it," Tornabene said. An FAQ about the ordinance indicates that problems included drug sales and criminal activity occurring in properties and landlords failing to take steps to curb those blights.

What are landlords most surprised to learn?

"There's always the belief they can lock tenants out," Tornabene said. "Or walk in without giving proper notice."

That hasn't been legal since rental laws took effect in the 1970s, he said.

The six-hour class is being offered:

• Tuesday Feb. 7 and Thursday Feb. 9 (three hours each day), from 6 to 9 p.m.
• Thursday Feb. 16, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Click here for more information, or contact Sgt. Tornabene at (847) 588-6505 or rgt@vniles.com.

Get more news. Like Niles Patch on Facebook