Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson intensified efforts Monday to advance a comprehensive tenants’ rights ordinance aimed at addressing rising housing costs and increasing protections for renters across the city. The proposed legislation includes measures such as capping move-in fees, banning deceptive “junk fees,” and establishing a rental registry to increase transparency among property owners.
Johnson framed the initiative as a necessary response to what he described as the negative impact of large corporate landlords on Chicago’s housing market. Speaking at a news conference ahead of a city council housing committee meeting, he emphasized that housing is a fundamental human right and pledged to hold landlords accountable. “We’ve watched as rents continue to skyrocket, while faceless, unaccountable corporations continue to buy up homes and consolidate their influence,” Johnson said.
Key elements of the plan include creating a new Tenants Bill of Rights and funding legal representation for those facing eviction. The ordinance would require landlords to disclose ownership information for major rental buildings, often obscured through complex legal entities, through a citywide rental registry. It also mandates “just cause” eviction protections, compelling landlords to provide legitimate grounds for evictions or lease nonrenewals. Tenants who are evicted may be eligible for relocation assistance payments, capped at either $5,000 or five months’ rent.
Earlier drafts of the proposal featured a provision obligating landlords to pay up to 10 months’ rent or $10,000 in cases where tenants leave due to an “unconscionable rent increase.” However, this clause was removed following discussions with rental industry representatives, who had criticized it as tantamount to rent control. Chicago’s Housing Commissioner, Lissette Castañeda, described the revision as a reflection of the administration’s openness to dialogue with landlord groups.
The proposal has encountered opposition from several real estate organizations, including the Chicago Association of Realtors, the Chicagoland Apartment Association, and the Neighborhood Building Owners Alliance. These groups argue that the measures may ultimately increase costs for landlords and tenants alike, potentially discouraging investment and reducing housing supply.
The debate arrives as roughly 54% of Chicago residents rent their homes and nearly half of those renters allocate more than 30% of their income toward housing expenses, according to city data. City council members face the challenge of balancing enhanced renter protections with concerns about housing development amid an upcoming election cycle.
Some aldermen expressed frustration with what they described as a partisan and adversarial negotiation process, calling for broader engagement with landlord-aligned stakeholders. Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez, chair of the Housing Committee, suggested the council is unlikely to hold a final vote this month, with a decision possibly postponed until the fall.