Chicago's Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance

Summary

This practice note explains Chicago's Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (the RLTO). Since its enactment in 1986, the RLTO has provided a legal framework regulating almost every aspect of the relationship between landlords and tenants in Chicago, including some very strong tenant protections. However, it can be difficult to comply with some of the RLTO's provisions and there are several sections that regularly create significant problems for both landlords and tenants. This note explains the RLTO's requirements and remedies in detail, discusses case law interpreting its provisions, and provides best practices to help attorneys for both landlords and tenants advise their clients effectively.