We need your help to pass protections for 245,000+ renter households in Cook County living in communities without a comprehensive landlord-tenant ordinance.
For thirty years, renters living in Chicago, Evanston, and Mount Prospect have benefited from municipal ordinances defining basic landlord-tenant rights and responsibilities. Now, Cook County Commissioners have the opportunity to pass a measure that will protect suburban Cook County renters in additional communities. See our fact sheet for the ordinance »
The Cook County Residential Tenant Landlord Ordinance:
- Prohibits lease terms that waive the basic tenant right to notices, require renters to “confess judgment” without a trial, or allow landlords to charge exorbitant interest rates on late payment of rent
- Improves on procedures for renters to withhold rent until building condition problems are addressed
- Creates a course of action to enforce renters’ rights not to be locked out and provides guidance on when landlord entry is permitted
- Requires security deposits to be maintained separately and returned to renters, prohibits excessive security deposits, prevents landlords from renaming security deposits “move-in fees” so as to keep them, and sets up penalties when security deposits are not returned
Overall, the proposed ordinance clarifies the roles and responsibilities for both renters and landlords—making the rental landscape easier and fairer to navigate for everyone.
Email your commissioner today to urge them to take action to protect all renters:
Want to do more?
Call your commissioner
Pick up the phone and give your commissioner a call to tell them why you support the Cook County Residential Tenant Landlord Ordinance. We have a sample script to make it easy.
Call your commissioner »
Join our Week of Action (December 7 – 11)
In the week leading up to the vote, we’ll be holding a virtual town hall, tweeting up a storm, messaging commissioners, and helping explain how the RTLO will clarify roles and responsibilities for both tenants and landlords.
Endorse as an organization
Join the 40+ organizations that have publicly signed on in support of the Residential Tenant Landlord Ordinance.
In addition to endorsing the ordinance, we encourage organizations to send letters of support to commissioners. See our comment letter template for inspiration.