I have a client (I am not a lwayer) who recieved notice that her landlord will not renew her lease...?

She will fight the action by saying that he was retalitating against her (She complained to the alderman and a local legal office that she wanted some new appliances - all of which were working fine to be honest). Before the landlord gave her the notice, she changed her locks (which is apparently against the agreement she signed) Does she have a case? Will she win? Please, informed answers only. This happened in Chicago.

What does the law say about retalitory issues? or does her changing the locks negate it?

She's already broken the written agreement, the landlord is in no obligation to keep her as a tenant. There is no case here. She can't win, because there is nothing to be won.

Your client hopes to plea that she should have her lease renewed based on the premises that the landlord dislikes her? But she broke her agreement, changed the locks and appliances, which is not allowed while renting. And judging by your information, she most likely did so to aggravate the landlord.

There is no case here, she need to find a new place.

She doesn't have a chance.

No, since she is not being terminated early. Any landlord has a right at any time to not renew a lease agreement. He does not need a reason.

The landlord does not need a reason to refuse to renew her lease. ...... and she still gave him one anyhow! It's not her house. She cannot change the locks without permission and giving a set of keys to the landlord.

She'll be wasting her time and money. From what you say, she has violated the lease and the landlord does not have to renew it, and could actually even evict her. If the appliances were working, she had no reason to complain to anyone anyway.
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I'm a landlord.
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this is a lease for a determined amount of time. there is no reason needed to be given once the lease had expired. neither party has to extend the lease. this is not a month to month.