Eviction advice for a property in Lake County, IL

[Kate K.]

I am trying to help an elder couple, who are landlords to our irresponsible and obnoxious neighbors, because the situation got out of hand not only for us, the neighbors, but for them, the landlords as well. Even more so for them than it is for us. The property is in Lake County, IL.

The owners are an older couple and our terrible neighbors (their tenants) not only trashed the property they are renting, they turned our back yard in to their dogs' toilet too! They ran the property down to unsanitary condition, green bottle flies are flying everywhere over dogs feces (during very hot weather it stinks horribly too!), and they don't even clean up! We had to call the police on multiple occasions and we dealt with this nightmare for the past 2 years... I tried to reason with them but it was useless, they responded disrespectfully and refused to clean up or keep their dogs on the leash, so we had to involve the police and put up a temporary fence. 

They don't let their landlords in the house, they don't pay rent for the past 12 months (or just about), they don't move out and keep lying to police and the property owners that they will move out. Instead, they brought in 2 more children to the house, just had another baby (total of 5 now), their untrained large 2 dogs were attacking us on our own property which makes us feel unsafe and insecure on our own property that we own! These tenants don't seem to work and it's hard to imagine how they make living (neither one of them seem to work), just causing noise disturbance by loud inappropriate music every time we are in our back yard, etc. ... brought in the 3rd dog last week, took the sign "for rent" down which landlord put up (he put it up today again), and seems like have no intention to move out what so ever!!! They deliberately abusing landlords' compassion and taking advantage of their kindness.

Today I finally met these owners which I tried to get in contact with for a while, because of continuous disturbance from their tenants. They actually came to remind their tenants that their lease has expired, but tenants didn't open the door... He flipped over the stacks of hay by the house siding, which was stacked against the house since last Halloween, and was attacked by millions of wasps! Those tenants hid in the house and didn't even open the door to the owner to ask if he is ok, at least!!.. I offered him my help. 

Could you please give us a good advice where to start? Tough attorney might be needed ASAP, who will know exactly what to do, act immediately, work quickly and will be able to get them out of the premises in a shortest period of time, because according to the law pertaining eviction (I already researched it before we purchased our own investment properties), landlord cannot evict tenants in winter. With that being said, they might have a "free housing" for another year!

According to the law, even before Coronavirus tenants couldn't be evicted during winter months, so that means if they will not move out in the near months, they will be getting "free housing" for another year! It's so unfair and a terrible situation for this elder couple to be in as the owner, and still to have their property destroyed on top of that... 

I'd like to help this nice couple (landlords) to evict their irresponsible rude dishonest tenants before this upcoming winter, because if they will not move out now, they will most likely end up staying over the winter, which they already seem to have planned on doing - to keep taking advantage of this older couple and not pay them rent!!! It is outrageous and unimaginable losses for the owner - no rent payments AND destroyed property on top of that...

Of course, I will talk to this elder couple about thorough extensive screening process prior to letting renters in to the premises, which we do with our perspective tenants before choosing the ones we will decide to rent our property to, but that will be later. Now they need their property saved from further damage and have these tenants out. Are there any delays as of right now due to Coronavirus wit eviction process? How long would it take to evict them?

Thank you in advance for any suggestions! Any advice is appreciated!