City Council OKs Longer Notification For Rent, Lease Changes

CHICAGO — The Chicago City Council passed an ordinance Wednesday that immediately increased the notification period for landlords to raise rent or not renew a lease.

Landlords previously were required to notify tenants within 30 days of changes taking place. Now, landlords must provide 60 days of notification before changes for renters who have been in the same apartment between six months and three years; and notification must be 120 days before changes for renters who have been living in their units for more than three years.

The ordinance passed in a 35-14 vote.

"We have to be balanced about this," 4th Ward Ald. Sophia King said. "Landlords will still have the ability — in the first, second and third years, if they find a tenant to be not a good tenant — to have all the recourses that they've already had. So this is really, I think, a very fair, a very balanced approach for everybody. I think we can do more, honestly, for our tenants. There's a lot of suffering going on, but I think this is a very good start."

However, the Chicagoland Apartment Association, an affiliate of the National Apartment Association, argued the ordinance would only cause greater problems for landlords and owners. Citing anecdotal evidence, the association said that "bad" tenants — after being told their lease will not be renewed — will refuse to pay rent, and extending that time frame will cause a greater burden for owners.

"Fair Notice’s unintended consequences will be more eviction filings, more unpaid rent, and more on-site disputes," the statement reads. "All things this body should be using public policy to dissuade."

Some on the council, such as 15th Ward Ald. Raymond Lopez, hoped that an ordinance could be put forward to protect smaller landlords. He said he fears that the passage of these protections would cause financial ruin to smaller owners by encouraging some residents to not pay rent.

“I understand the administration is trying to avoid a housing crisis for renters. But what concerns me and what has continued to concern me," Lopez said, "we are shifting the burden on individuals who are in no position to afford carrying a greater burden when their renters cannot meet their obligations."

But 5th Ward Ald. Leslie Hairston saw the proposal as a compromise during the coronavirus crisis.

"Under normal circumstances, 120 days would be unreasonable," Hairston said. "But under the circumstances that we find ourselves in today, the numerous people who don't have their jobs, have job insecurity, I think it's important that we give them the extra time that they need to get the money."