From time to time I handle high-end Chicago rentals for clients, either listing or searching for the perfect apartment. Much like the world of residential real estate sales where buyers and sellers are protected by certain rules and regulations, the rental world runs in a parallel universe where landlords and tenants (lessor and lessee) are subject to their respective rules and regulations. In Chicago, the document that outlines the rules of the game is the Chicago Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance. Amazing how many times I see lease provisions in violation of this document.Â
The rental process is as follows:
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Tenant searches for an apartment either on their own or with an agent from a brokerage or apartment finding service. In Chicago the apartment market is highly fragmented with listings being slit across many systems.
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Once an apartment is found then negotiation begins. Everything is negotiable from the monthly rent to the amount of the security deposit.
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Once a meeting of the minds is reached the prospective tenant completes a rental application which usually allows the landlord to pull credit.
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Assuming that credit comes back clean then a lease is prepared by the landlord and presented to the tenant for signature.
As mentioned, in Chicago, the lease is subject to the Chicago Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance. Know your rights, landlords and tenants alike visit the Metropolitan Tenants Organization for some great tips and to review the CLTO.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
This is all very true. Landlords need to make sure not only that their leases comply with the Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance, but that the required summary of the RLTO they have to attach to their leases (under RLTO section 170) is UP TO DATE. There was an amendment in 2003. Tenants may be able to legally terminate a written Chicago lease if the landlord’s summary of the RLTO was not proper.
Hi can the landlord entering to the apartatament what i rent without my knowing??
also can he locked the door where is not a lock and break acces to the condo{i have to ring the bell}???
and do i have to pay for AC instalaction to my apartaments{what i rent}??
if you’re covered by the RLTO, then your LL must give u 2days written notice b4 entering your apt, unless you allow the LL to enter earlier or its an emergency. also, what you are describing may be a lockout – that is a criminal offense. call 911 to get back in. http://www.tenants-rights.org/lockouts-faq/ and your LL is not required to provide AC, so if you want it, u’ll have to pay for it yourself.
Can my landlord allow his brother who lives next door (landlord does not live in the rental building) to let his dog in the backyard and leave the adjoining gate open. The brother also has a large above ground pool….not fenced in, I have a 2 year old. The brother has parties and lets his guest drink and party in our backyard. One morning I woke up to a bucket with a toilet seat on it. Guess what that was used for….I was told by the landlord that the house is his and he can do whatever he wants….the backyard is not part of the apartment therefore we dont rent the back. We are also not allow to use the basement for storage unless we pay a fee because that is not part of the apartment. We live in a house with 2 units, both rented.