Rental Housing Expo in Chicago offering valuable insight on renting

Renting has become a convenient solution to time-consuming, mortgage-haunted homeownership, especially for young renters who value independence and sustainability more than anything else. But the path to a happy living is not as simple as that. Often times we are faced with problems that are not so easy to address, especially if you’re new at renting.

Want to know more about your rights as a renter in Chicago? Have questions about your lease or security deposit?  Are you facing eviction because of a landlord foreclosure? These are all questions that will find an answer at the 9th Annual Rents Right Expo, to be held Saturday, Nov. 3 at Adam Clayton Powell School, 7511 South Shore Dr. from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Just make sure you drop by and speak your mind. Admission is free.

In addition there will be lots of information on other housing issues, with approximately 40 housing-related agencies and service providers ready to provide insight on everything related to lodging from education on rental rights, obligations and responsibilities, to building code violations, laws pertaining to evictions and lockouts, resources for conflict and problem resolution and other related matters. The event will also host bilingual workshops on topics ranging from fair housing laws to bed bugs.

The Expo is co-sponsored by the Department of Housing and Economic Development (HED) and the Chicago Rents Right committee, which assists landlords and tenants in meeting their legal obligations.

“The Rents Right Expo provides a convenient, one-stop opportunity to share information and offer referrals to needed programs, services and training to help prevent and resolve conflicts between tenants and landlords,” said HED Commissioner Andrew Mooney in a statement.

Participating agencies include the Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing, Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago, Metropolitan Tenants Organization, Spanish Coalition for Housing, Access Living and others.