SECURITY AND SAFETY
If you live within the city limits of Champaign or Urbana, your landlord is responsible for certain security measures. City codes require landlords to provide:
- LIGHTING IN HALLWAYS, ENTRYWAYS, STAIRWELLS AND PARKING LOTS
- OPERABLE LOCKS ON ALL WINDOWS
- DEADBOLT-LOCKS FOR EXTERIOR DOORS
- VIEWFINDER (PEEP-HOLE) FOR FRONT DOOR
THE MOST IMPORTANT SAFETY TIP FOR SECURITY IN YOUR RENTAL UNIT IS TO ALWAYS LOCK YOUR
WINDOWS -- EVEN DURING THE DAY -- WHENEVER YOU ARE GONE FOR ANY AMOUNT OF
TIME AND ALWAYS LOCK YOUR DOORS, AT ANY HOUR OF THE DAY, EVEN WHEN YOU ARE AT HOME.
Many home invasions involve the intruder entering through a window or
door that was left unlocked. Many second-story windows and balcony doors
are accessible from the outside.
Take note of any entry point for a
potential intruder and treat it as though it were your front door.
USE THIS CHECKLIST TO ASSESS THE SAFETY OF YOUR HOME:
- Are the doors made of wood or metal? Are doors at least one and
three eighths inches thick?
- Are all doors secured with a single-cylinder deadbolt lock having a
minimum throw of one inch?
- Does the bolt penetrate the strike by not less than three-eighths inch
(3/8")?
- Are all deadbolt locks the type that can be activated from the outside
with a key and from the inside with a turnpiece?
- Are strikeplates firmly secured with at least two screws?
- Are the screws that secure the strikeplate a minimum length of two and
one-half inches?
- Do the screws that secure the strikeplate penetrate framing members behind
the jamb?
- Do all exterior swinging doors to individual dwelling units have
viewfinders (peepholes)?
- Are viewfinders not less than four and one-half feet nor more than five feet
above the threshold of the door?
- Do all patio-type or sliding doors have deadbolt locks?
- Are the mounting screws for the lock case for the patio-type or sliding
doors made of hardened steel inserts?
- If the doors are of the single sliding type, and the sliding panel is on
the inside, is there a permanently installed, self-storing security bar
which may be used instead of the deadbolt lock?
- Are windows equipped with properly working locking devices?
- Are the entrance, hallways, stairwells and parking lot well-lit to allow
visibility?
If you have any questions or problems with these safety concerns, contact the
Tenant Union at 217-333-0112 for assistance.
The
765 ILCS
750 provides lease remedies for tenants who are victims of violence on the
leased premises.
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The Tenant Union does not provide legal services of any kind. All information provided in this publication is intended to help the average person prevent problems and deal with common concerns of renting. When legal help is needed, always consult with an attorney at law.
This page was last updated on 12/21/06.
