Repair request letter to landlord (Chicago)
Legal advice recommended before use.
A written, dated repair request is the starting point for the RLTO's tenant remedies under Municipal Code of Chicago § 5-12-110, if your unit is RLTO-covered. The RLTO distinguishes between "minor defects" (generally repair-and-deduct rights after a stated notice period) and a loss of essential services — heat, running water, electricity, gas, or plumbing — which can allow a tenant to withhold rent after as little as 24 hours without correction, and to terminate the lease if the loss continues around 72 hours. Confirm the current notice periods and dollar caps under § 5-12-110 before relying on a specific number, since these figures are exactly the kind of detail worth double-checking against the current ordinance text or a housing attorney. Keep a copy of this letter — it’s your evidence that you gave notice.
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For emergencies (no heat in cold weather, a gas leak, sewage backup, or an immediate safety hazard), don't wait on this letter's timeline — contact your landlord immediately and, if needed, 311 or the City of Chicago Department of Buildings. This is a template, not legal advice.
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Frequently asked questions
What counts as a loss of "essential services" under the RLTO?
Heat, running water, hot water, electricity, gas, and plumbing are generally treated as essential services under Municipal Code of Chicago § 5-12-110 — a category with faster, stronger tenant remedies than an ordinary "minor defect."
How fast can I withhold rent for a loss of essential services?
Secondary sources describing § 5-12-110(f) commonly cite the ability to withhold rent after a relatively short window (often described as 24 hours) without correction, and to terminate the lease if the loss continues (often described as around 72 hours). Confirm the current exact language and any conditions before withholding rent, since getting this wrong can expose you to a nonpayment claim.
What about smaller problems that aren't an essential-service loss?
Section 5-12-110(c) covers "minor defects" with a notice-and-wait period (commonly described as around 14 days) before a tenant can repair the problem and deduct the reasonable cost from rent, generally up to a capped amount. Confirm the current notice period and dollar cap before using this remedy.
Does this apply to my unit?
Only if your unit is covered by the RLTO. Owner-occupied buildings with 6 units or fewer are exempt from most of the RLTO, including § 5-12-110's tenant remedies (MCC § 5-12-020(a)) — for those units, Illinois general landlord-tenant law applies instead.
Should I send this by certified mail?
For anything beyond a routine repair — especially before withholding rent or repairing-and-deducting — send by a method you can prove (certified mail, or email/text with a read receipt) and keep a dated copy. That record is what supports your position if the landlord disputes that proper notice was given.
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