Renter help in Chicago
Chicago's landlord-tenant rules are unusually layered: the city's Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (RLTO) adds real protections on top of Illinois state law — but only for units it covers. Owner-occupied buildings with 6 units or fewer are exempt from most of the RLTO, so the first question in almost any Chicago rental dispute is whether the RLTO even applies to you.
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CertRent is a free educational renter-verification platform. We're not a law firm, and nothing here is legal advice — but we'll point you to the relevant law and where disputes are typically resolved.
"My landlord never paid interest on my deposit, or won't return it"
For RLTO-covered units, your landlord must hold your deposit in an interest-bearing account and pay you interest annually, at a rate the City Comptroller publishes each year (Municipal Code of Chicago §§ 5-12-080, 5-12-081). Before deducting for damage, they generally must give you a written itemized statement within 30 days of move-out. Getting the interest calculation or itemization wrong can expose a landlord to statutory damages of two times the deposit, plus your attorney's fees. See our security deposit and interest guide for the full breakdown, and our itemized return & interest statement template.
"I got an eviction notice"
The notice period depends on why: at least 5 days for unpaid rent under state law (735 ILCS 5/9-209), at least 10 days for other lease violations under the RLTO if your unit is covered (MCC § 5-12-130), and longer notice for ending a tenancy without cause. See our eviction notice guide for how to tell which one you received and what to do next. Only a court — the Circuit Court of Cook County — can actually order an eviction; a notice by itself doesn't remove you.
"My place has no heat, or needs repairs"
Chicago's heat ordinance requires at least 68°F during the day and 66°F overnight from September 15 through June 1, with fines up to $1,000 per day for landlords who don't comply. If your unit is also RLTO-covered, a loss of heat is treated as a loss of an "essential service," which can let you withhold rent after a short window and terminate the lease if it continues (MCC § 5-12-110). See our heat ordinance guide and repair and habitability guide — both include specific notice steps worth following carefully before you withhold any rent.
"Did I even get the disclosures I was supposed to?"
For RLTO-covered units, your landlord is required to attach the city's official RLTO summary to your lease and every renewal (MCC § 5-12-170). If you never got one, that's worth noting, especially alongside another dispute. See our RLTO summary disclosure guide.
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This hub is general information, not legal advice. For your specific situation, consult a qualified attorney, a Cook County tenant legal-aid organization, or the Circuit Court of Cook County.
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