Understanding Tenant Rights: The Evanston RLTO and Tenant Protections

The Evanston Residential Landlord Tenant Ordinance (RLTO) is a local law that affects landlords and tenants. 

Tenants covered by the RLTO have rights like: 

• Repairs: If the landlord does not make repairs, the tenant may demand a repair by written notice. If the landlord fails to make repairs in 14 days, then the tenant may withhold rent or repair and deduct. If the landlord fails to make repairs in 30 days, then the tenant may terminate the lease.
• Minimum Notice of Lease Non-Renewal: If the landlord chooses not to renew the lease, then the landlord needs to give 30 days of notice before the lease ends.
• Minimum Notice Before Landlord Entry: The landlord needs to give at least 2 days of notice before entering the tenant's unit, unless it's an emergency.
• Disclosure of Information: The landlord needs to disclose contact information (the name, address, and telephone number of the landlord or landlord's agent), code violations, whether there's a foreclosure, and if there are known lead hazards.
• Summary of the RLTO: The tenant must receive a copy of the summary of the RLTO. For a summary of the RLTO, visit this link.
• Sublease: The tenant has a right to sublet as long as it is reasonable and that person meets the same qualifications required for all tenants. 
• Prohibition Against Retaliation: Landlords cannot retaliate within 1 year of the tenant's good faith protected action.

Landlords have rights like: 

• The right to terminate the lease if rent is not paid. The landlord must give a written 10-day notice 
• The right to terminate the lease if the tenant violates their lease. The landlord must give a written 30-day notice identifying the lease violation. 
• The right to not renew the lease after giving proper notice.
• The right to throw away abandoned property after 15 days.