The Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (RLTO) is an ordinance of the city of Chicago which outlines the rights and responsibilities of tenants and their landlords or property management firms. RLTO clarifies and defines the relationship between landlords and tenants, and grants each certain rights, while also clarifying each party’s obligations to one another. For the full document click here!

The RLTO Covers: 

Rental units under written or oral leases, Including CHA housing, section 8 housing, IHDA housing, etc. 

The RLTO does NOT cover: 

Owner-occupied buildings of 6 or fewer units. 

Units in hotels, motels, and rooming houses (except when rent is paid monthly and the unit is occupied for more than 32 days)

School dormitories, shelters, employees quarters, non-residential properties

Owner-occupied co-operatives and condominiums.

For Landlords, the RLTO outlines:

Tenants Rights to:

• Clean and structurally sound buildings

• Tenants unions/associations

• Fair and safe security deposits

• Back-pay rent to terminate eviction

• Essential Services (Heat, hot and running water, electricity, plumbing, and/or gas)

Tenant Responsibilities to:

• Refrain from Retaliatory Conduct

• Maintain smoke detectors and plumbing fixtures

• Pay rent in a timely manner

• Allow landlord/contractors into unit to complete necessary work