Our lease started Feb with our duplex 2 bedroom 1 bath apartment from Craig & Eileen Isakson. Everything seemed to be fine for the first couple of months. First Craig broke into the apartment and stole our ADT security system and said he was putting it in another apartment that he owned. We called ADT and they said that was illegal and replaced our alarm free of charge. Then we started noticing small things going wrong with the apartment which was expected (mostly plumbing). We reported the issues with Craig & Eileen. We were told they would be fixed. Well, they never were. Issues started adding up. We found the toilet seal was busted, the inside of the toilet was broke (we had to use a string to flush the toilet), our bathtub was leaking from under the tub, kitchen sink was leaking from the pipes, floors were caving in under the cabinets, our main support beam that holds the house snapped in half, basement would flood everytime it rained and rodents (mice) moved in. We reported the issues and nothing was ever done about them. Our neighbors in the same building were coming and going and one set of new tenants brought roaches to the apartment. We told Craig & Eileen about the roaches and other issues atleast once a week for 2 months. Craig brought over some bug spray that looked like it only cost him a $1. It was cheap and didnt work. Then he brought over some foggers that didnt work. We told him he needed to call an exterminator and get the issue fixed or else we were calling the health department. They didnt listen. We eventually called the health department. The health department came to our apartment a month before our lease expired and gave Craig & Eileen Multiple violations. Now before the health department we told Craig & Eileen that we were going to stay an extra month after our lease was up so we could find a place to live. We have 2 kids so its kinda hard to find a big enough place. Craig said that was fine.
Well once he got the phone call from the health department that all changed. He came over and demanded our rent from us. Once the rent was in his hands he said "Oh yeah, since you called the health department on us, you have to be out the day your lease expires." That is only 2 weeks away. He told us "If you wouldnt of called on us, you would of been able to stay for as long as you liked without signing a lease but you went and f*ed that up." These people dont care about anyone except there selves. They dont care if they put a family with 2 children 2 years old and 4 years old out on the streets in the winter. They openly admitted to being slum lords and said it was our fault for trusting them. Craig had also mentioned to us a few months ago that he had to kick one of his other tennants out and he went to there apartment, threw there stuff to the curb and waited there with a gun for them to come home. He said that he didnt file eviction or anything, he just decided to toss them out because they were 5 days late on rent. He brags about this stuff to try to scare us but it doesnt work. We know our rights and we know the laws. The only time they return your phone calls is when rent is due. He also mentioned he doesnt have to give us back our deposit. State law requires that the deposit is sent to us within 45 days of lease end date as long as there isn't damage to the apartment that isn't normal wear and tear. We had our lawyer do a walk through on the apartment along with the health department for the second time and none of the damages are caused by us. They are caused by cheap fixes to the plumbing and neglagent building maintenence. Now we are waiting for the final walk through with Craig & Eileen. I know they are going to try to pull something so I will keep this updated.
Bottom Line: Do not rent from Craig & Eileen Isakson in Rockford, Illinois.
RonRockford, Illinois
U.S.A.
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