In May 2023, three tenants living in a six-unit building in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood were dealing with serious problems in their apartment. Cristina Miranda, Tulsi McDaniels, and Alex Wirt reported broken and unsafe conditions: leaking water from the ceiling even when it wasn’t raining, floors that were rotting and could collapse, windows that let in cold air, broken hallway lights, and mouse infestations. These were not minor issues—they made the apartment difficult and unsafe to live in.
The tenants followed the law and formally asked their landlord, a company called Pilsen Rentals LLC, to fix everything. Chicago’s tenant laws say landlords must maintain safe, livable conditions. If they don’t, tenants have a right to take action, including withholding part of their rent.
They Withheld Rent the Legal Way
The three renters took all the right steps. They sent their landlord a written letter listing the problems and gave them 14 days to respond, just as the city’s rules require. When no repairs were made, the tenants began to withhold a portion of their rent—between 5% and 25%—depending on how bad the issues were each month. They used a lawyer to help calculate how much the apartment’s value had dropped due to the unsafe conditions.
City inspectors later confirmed that there were 18 code violations in the building, and the landlord was fined at least $5,000. Still, the major repairs didn’t happen quickly. The tenants kept a record of everything and continued paying the reduced rent. Then, in early 2024, once many of the major issues were addressed, they resumed paying the full amount again.
The Landlord Struck Back with Rent Hikes
Instead of moving on, the landlord responded by demanding the money the tenants had previously withheld—even though they had done it legally. On top of that, they added late fees of $25 to $65 per month, claiming the tenants were behind on rent. In March 2024, the landlord raised the rent by a huge amount—one tenant’s rent went up 55%. The other two saw hikes of 26% and 33%.
This seemed suspicious. Other tenants in the building had either no rent increases or smaller ones. The three renters believed this was clear retaliation for standing up for their rights and speaking out. They decided to fight back in court.
Court System Made It Harder for Tenants
The tenants filed a retaliation lawsuit, saying the landlord punished them for using their legal rights. But the landlord then filed eviction cases against them, claiming they hadn’t paid rent. The tenants asked the court to pause the evictions and combine both cases into one, but the judge denied that request.
As a result, the eviction cases moved faster than the retaliation lawsuit. This put the tenants in a tough spot—they had to spend time and money on court hearings while also facing the risk of being forced out of their homes. Even though they had followed the law from the beginning, the system didn’t offer much support.
They Settled but Had to Move Out Anyway
After nearly two years of fighting in court, the tenants finally reached a settlement with the landlord in April 2025. As part of the deal, the landlord agreed to drop the eviction cases and cancel the unpaid rent and fees. They also forgave a few months of future rent. But there was one condition: the tenants had to move out and not talk about the case publicly. The landlord didn’t admit to any wrongdoing.
In the end, even though the tenants did everything legally and tried to protect their rights, they were still forced to leave their homes. Their story highlights how difficult it is for renters to stand up to landlords, even in a city like Chicago that has laws meant to protect them. Many renters don’t have the time, resources, or legal knowledge to go through long court battles. And even when they do, they often lose anyway—or settle just to get some peace.
