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Tell Commissioners:
Don't Delay, Vote YES on Basic Rights for All Renters
We need your help to pass protections for 245,000+ renter households in Cook County living in communities without a comprehensive tenant-landlord ordinance.
This leaves them vulnerable to landlord retaliation, neglected repairs, landlords entering units without permission, absurdly high late fees, and lockouts.
Commissioners need to vote YES on the RTLO this January.
For thirty years, renters living in Chicago, Evanston, and Mount Prospect have benefited from municipal ordinances defining basic tenant-landlord rights and responsibilities. Now, we urge Cook County to pass a measure that will protect suburban Cook County renters in other communities. The proposed ordinance will establish:
- Protections against leases that eliminate basic tenant right to notices
- Guarantees security deposit returns under lease terms and prevents landlords from renaming security deposits "move-in fees" so as to keep them
- Procedures for withholding rent until building condition problems are addressed
- Safeguards against lock-outs
- Requirement of notice before a landlord enters the unit
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.
No more delays
We had hoped to see the RTLO pass in December, but the vote was delayed to provide County Commissioners more time to review very recent amendments to the ordinance language that have resulted from our negotiations with groups representing rental property owners.
Your voice matters
To everyone who has emailed their commissioner or submitted written statements in support of the ordinance—thank you. Now is the time to email them again!
The commissioners are paying attention; they tell us continually that they need to hear constituents and are paying attention to the messages they get. Your voice matters.
About this initiative
Housing Action Illinois, the Chicago Area Fair Housing Alliance, and Lawyers' Committee for Better Housing are partnering on this initiative to pass the Residential Tenant Landlord Ordinance, along with an increasing number of allies. To learn more about our campaign and get involved, contact Housing Policy Organizer Sheila Sutton: sheila@housingactionil.org.
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Housing Action Illinois is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization that works to protect and expand affordable housing for all.
Tell Commissioners:
Don't Delay, Vote YES on Basic Rights for All Renters
Housing Action Illinois is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization that works to protect and expand affordable housing for all.
Tell Commissioners:
Don't Delay, Vote YES on Basic Rights for All Renters
Thank you for your support!
However, this particular call to action doesn't target leaders representing your district.
Housing Action Illinois is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization that works to protect and expand affordable housing for all.
Tell Commissioners:
Don't Delay, Vote YES on Basic Rights for All Renters
Thank you for your support!
We appreciate you speaking up to support protections for ALL renters in Cook County.
To learn more about our campaign, contact Housing Actions Illinois' Housing Policy Organizer, Sheila Sutton: sheila@housingactionil.org.
Housing Action Illinois is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization that works to protect and expand affordable housing for all.