South Shore tenants demand action over rising rent, maintenance problems
Chicago tenants demand action over rising rent, maintenance problems
Chicago residents at Oglesby Towers are demanding answers about rising housing costs as they say their rent payments have become unpredictable.
CHICAGO - South Shore residents say rising housing costs and ongoing maintenance problems have left them frustrated with their landlord.
Oglesby Towers tenants demand action
Tenants at Oglesby Towers joined 5th Ward Ald. Desmon Yancy on Tuesday morning to call for changes at the apartment building.
One of their main concerns is a billing system known as RUBS, or a ratio utility billing system. Residents say the system was put in place sometime in 2025, but they were never given a clear explanation of how their monthly charges are calculated.
Some tenants say their payments have increased by $300 to $500.
Residents also reported maintenance problems, including closed garbage chutes, broken elevators and bedbugs.
The tenants union says those problems are especially difficult for seniors and residents with disabilities, many of whom live on fixed incomes.
What they're saying:
Antoniette Gray, a resident at Oglesby Towers, said she is facing eviction and has nowhere else to go.
"I’m being pushed out of this building in two weeks because of RUBS," Gray said. "When I first moved into this building, my rent was only $800 and some dollars a month. How did I end up paying $1,400 to $1,600 a month for rent? Where did the extra money come from? What is this money for? Why do I owe this money? Every time we sent the rent in, they send a message back saying we still owe more money."
The other side:
RUBS utility billing systems are legal in Illinois as long as landlords follow state requirements.
The tenants union says landlord Stewart Handler has ignored requests to meet with residents about their concerns.
Ald. Yancy said Handler owns other buildings in the 5th Ward, and tenants are concerned the billing system could be introduced there as well.
What's next:
Residents and the tenants union are seeking a meeting with Handler to discuss the billing system, rent charges and maintenance problems.
FOX Chicago is working to contact the landlord for a response.
The Source: The information in this story came from Oglesby Towers tenants and 5th Ward Ald. Desmon Yancy.