The Chicago Department of Housing today launched the Foreclosure Assistance Information for Renters (FAIR) initiative, an information campaign aimed at helping renters who are affected by foreclosure. The event took place at the City's annual Rental Housing Expo.

Housing Commissioner Ellen Sahli was joined by Kathy Clark, Executive Director, Lawyers' Committee for Better Housing, leaders of rental housing organizations and other City officials to inform renters of their rights and responsibilities when facing eviction because of a landlord foreclosure.

"The impact of foreclosure is even more significant on renters who are evicted when building owners are foreclosed on by lending institutions," Sahli said. "That's why we are working with our housing partners and other groups to inform tenants about the laws that protect them."

Legislation increasing renter protections recently took effect. The City's awareness campaign will tell renters about the law, direct renters to potential financial and legal resources and warn them about how to avoid fraud.

"Many of our most vulnerable residents can fall prey to fraudulent practices," said Norma Reyes, Commissioner, Department of Consumer Services. "So we are proud to work in partnership with agencies that will safeguard the rights of renters impacted by foreclosures."

Among other things, the law gives renters rights to at least 90 days notice to move out of a foreclosed building. The law also requires that the court records of a renter who is evicted because of a landlord's foreclosure be sealed.

As part of its efforts, the City will provide emergency relocation rental assistance for income-eligible households to support up to three months of rent and moving expenses because of a landlord's foreclosure.

The City will also work with the Lawyers Committee for Better Housing to expand the pool of pro-bono legal services available to tenants evicted because of a foreclosure.

The FAIR campaign will include outreach to community organizations to increase awareness of the law and organizations that renters can turn to for help.

The announcement was made at this year's Rental Housing Expo at Malcolm X College. The annual event sponsored by the Department of Housing and Chicago Rents Right features information on the many aspects of rental housing for both tenants and landlords.

The expo presented dozens of exhibitors, including government and community agencies, banks, insurance companies, developers of rental housing, property managers and more.

The free event also offered bilingual (Spanish and English) workshops for landlords and tenants, providing information on conflict resolution, housing discrimination, common building code violations and other aspects of rental housing.

More than half of Chicagoans live in rental housing and Rents Right provides landlords and tenants with assistance in meeting their legal obligations and exercising their rights.

Many of the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants are spelled out in the Residential Landlord Tenant Ordinance. It serves as a guide to a successful landlord/tenant relationship, and a copy should be provided to you at the start of your lease.

Remember - Good Tenants, Good Landlords, Great Neighborhoods! Know your rental rights and responsibilities. For more information on the Chicago Rents Right program or for a summary of the Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance, call the hotline at 312/742-7368 (RENT).

For details on FAIR and other city housing programs, call 311.