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;
• Landlords must provide the tenants his/her name, address, and telephone number;
• Late fee amounts are limited to $10 for the first $500 of rent and 5% on the rest;
• Landlords cannot ban subletting. The tenant is allowed to sublet to someone as long as that person meets the same qualifications required for all tenants; and
• 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 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.

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