House & Apartment

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The Chicago Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (RLTO) is a local law that affects landlords and renters.

The RLTO applies to most apartment buildings in Chicago. It doesn't apply if the building has 6 or fewer units and the landlord lives there. Even if your unit is not covered by RLTO, you still have rights under Illinois law.

Some of the landlord and tenant rights and responsibilities under the Chicago RLTO are:

• If the landlord doesn't make required repairs, the tenant may demand a repair by written notice, and in some cases may withhold rent,
• Landlords must provide the tenants his/her name, address, and telephone number,
• Late fee amounts are limited to $10 for the first $500 of monthly rent, and 5% on the amount of rent above $500,
• Landlords cannot ban subletting, and cannot charge any fees for subletting. The tenant is allowed to sublet to someone as long as that person meets the same qualifications required for all tenants,
• The tenant always has a right to a jury trial. The lease cannot prevent this,
• Landlords must provide notice if they want to end a month-to-month rental, not renew a lease, or raise the rent. The amount of notice they must give depends on how long the tenant has lived there,
• Landlords can enter a tenant's unit only for specific reasons, such as making repairs or showing the unit to prospective tenants or buyers. Except in emergencies, landlords must give at least two days’ notice before entering.
• Landlords must store security deposits in a separate interest-bearing account. They must also provide receipts for deposits and pay out interest accrued on these deposits annually. If a landlord fails to comply with these requirements, the tenant may be entitled to damages, including twice the security deposit plus interest.

Landlords in Chicago must give their tenants a written summary of the RLTO. A printable version can be found on the City of Chicago website. If your landlord fails to provide a summary of RLTO, you have the right to terminate the lease upon notice. The notice must specify the date of termination, which must be at least 30 days after the date of the notice.