Complaints about yard waste and housing in disrepair continue to rise in Urbana; Property inspections behind schedule goal

Rental property and nuisance complaints have soared in Urbana over the past few years, records show.  The records, obtained via Freedom of Information Act…

Continue ReadingComplaints about yard waste and housing in disrepair continue to rise in Urbana; Property inspections behind schedule goal
Read more about the article University of Illinois seeks to have ‘less adversarial’ relationship with landlords to provide more resources for student tenants
Screenshots of the Housing Explorer retrieved using the Internet Archive.

University of Illinois seeks to have ‘less adversarial’ relationship with landlords to provide more resources for student tenants

Following the takedown of the University of Illinois’s Housing Explorer database, a resource for students seeking housing in Urbana and Champaign, the Off-Campus Community…

Continue ReadingUniversity of Illinois seeks to have ‘less adversarial’ relationship with landlords to provide more resources for student tenants
Read more about the article Residents complain about housing conditions at Latitude apartments; Out-of-town owners exacerbate issues
A half-lit sign illuminates the Latitude East building on 608 E University Ave. Nine residents have filed maintenance complaints with the city of Champaign in the past year. Photo by Gwyn Skiles.

Residents complain about housing conditions at Latitude apartments; Out-of-town owners exacerbate issues

Latitude, a five-story apartment complex in Champaign, has been the target of at least nine complaints to the city within the past year. Located…

Continue ReadingResidents complain about housing conditions at Latitude apartments; Out-of-town owners exacerbate issues
Read more about the article Many in Wilber Heights yet to apply for permits to repair homes after amendment of longtime zoning ordinanceNathalie Murillo
Aerial shot of Wilber Heights. Screenshot from Google Maps.

Many in Wilber Heights yet to apply for permits to repair homes after amendment of longtime zoning ordinance

For decades, Champaign County forbade its residents in Wilber Heights to make repairs to their homes, even when seriously damaged. But even after a…

Continue ReadingMany in Wilber Heights yet to apply for permits to repair homes after amendment of longtime zoning ordinance
Read more about the article Condemned Champaign apartments’ out-of-town owners facing two city lawsuits seeking reimbursementapartments.com
Champaign Park Apartments received the most complaints in Champaign from January 1, 2021 to mid February 2023. During this time, 393 units were condemned by the city.

Condemned Champaign apartments’ out-of-town owners facing two city lawsuits seeking reimbursement

Earlier this year, 35 buildings at the Champaign Park Apartments were condemned — prompting two lawsuits filed by the city against the owners after…

Continue ReadingCondemned Champaign apartments’ out-of-town owners facing two city lawsuits seeking reimbursement
Read more about the article Rising Champaign housing complaints detail violations; Champaign Park Apartments received most in past two yearsapartments.com
Champaign Park Apartments received the most complaints in Champaign from January 1, 2021 to mid February 2023. During this time, 393 units were condemned by the city.

Rising Champaign housing complaints detail violations; Champaign Park Apartments received most in past two years

Over the past year, Champaign Park Apartments had so many serious inspection issues that led to the condemnation of 393 units and an unknown,…

Continue ReadingRising Champaign housing complaints detail violations; Champaign Park Apartments received most in past two years
Read more about the article Some Champaign landlords limit use of vouchers as income, meaning it’s harder for low-income families to rent; But Urbana landlords accept vouchers
Housing Authority of Champaign County, located at 2008 N Market St in Champaign. Image from Google Maps Street View.

Some Champaign landlords limit use of vouchers as income, meaning it’s harder for low-income families to rent; But Urbana landlords accept vouchers

Champaign landlords are reluctant to consider federal housing vouchers as income, prompting many to not accept vouchers — but Urbana’s laws protect tenants from…

Continue ReadingSome Champaign landlords limit use of vouchers as income, meaning it’s harder for low-income families to rent; But Urbana landlords accept vouchers
Read more about the article Lack of funding forces end of public health district housing, food assistance for COVID-positive residents
Screenshot of the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District's COVID-19 dashboard taken on August 1, 2022.

Lack of funding forces end of public health district housing, food assistance for COVID-positive residents

Come mid-August, the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District will no longer offer food and housing assistance to those who have tested positive for the COVID-19…

Continue ReadingLack of funding forces end of public health district housing, food assistance for COVID-positive residents
Read more about the article COVID-19 delays, alters University inspections of private certified housing; less violations discovered annually
Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity on the University of Illinois campus has been placed on conduct probation until Nov. 16, 2021 after violating mask protocol and city emergency orders.

COVID-19 delays, alters University inspections of private certified housing; less violations discovered annually

Between 2020 and 2021 in Champaign, more than 40 private certified housing locations for the University of Illinois campus decreased the number of violations…

Continue ReadingCOVID-19 delays, alters University inspections of private certified housing; less violations discovered annually
Read more about the article University Tenant Union Housing Portal taken down for violating ad policies, but decision eliminates student complaints against landlordsHousing Explorer web page
The Housing Explorer was among one of the cuts to student and community resources made by the University of Illinois's Off-Campus Community Living Office.

University Tenant Union Housing Portal taken down for violating ad policies, but decision eliminates student complaints against landlords

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign quietly removed an online portal last year that, compiled a database of student complaints against area landlords and landlord responses to those complaints. A university official said this month that the site was taken down because it violated campus website advertising rules and that it was too much work to maintain the complaints section. The University of Illinois Off-Campus Community Living suggests that students use sites like Google Reviews, Yelp, the U of I Reddit Page, or the Better Business Bureau to draw their own conclusions about leasing companies on campus. 

Continue ReadingUniversity Tenant Union Housing Portal taken down for violating ad policies, but decision eliminates student complaints against landlords