Philip Devon, a staff attorney with the Metropolitan Tenants Organization, told meeting attendees that the City of Evanston limits move‑in fees, caps security deposits and requires advance notice for rent increases or lease terminations.

The rules apply to housing providers in Evanston and affect tenants’ upfront costs, how deposits are held and returned, and the notice landlords must give before eviction or rent changes.

“In Evanston, housing providers cannot charge more than $25 for the first $1,600 in rent, and then they can charge 5% of any amount that is over $1,600,” Devon said. He offered an example: for $1,700 monthly rent, a landlord may charge $25 plus 5% of the $100 above $1,600, for a total of $30.

Devon said the city also limits security deposits to 1.5 times the monthly rent and requires housing providers to hold deposits in a separate interest‑bearing account and identify to the tenant where that deposit is being held. “They also must hold any security deposit in a separate interest bearing account and identify to the tenant where that deposit's being held,” he said.

When a tenant vacates, Devon said landlords have 21 days to return the deposit, including any deductions. If a housing provider withholds money for damages or unpaid rent, the provider must disclose an itemized list of deductions to the tenant.

Devon described the process for unpaid rent: a housing provider should serve a tenant with a 10‑day written notice that states the past‑due amount and gives the tenant 10 days to cure and pay in full. “If the tenant does not pay the rent within 10 days, the landlord has the right to begin an eviction action in the circuit court of Cook County,” he said.

He added that for termination, renewal or rent increases, Evanston requires 90 days’ notice. If a landlord fails to give the proper 90 days’ notice and instead gives shorter notice, Devon said, “for example, the tenant can stay for 90 days or continue paying the same rental rate for 90 days after they received the insufficient notice.”

Devon said the Metropolitan Tenants Organization holds a contract with the city to help answer tenant‑landlord questions and resolve issues between housing providers and tenants. The comments in the meeting were informational; no legislative or enforcement actions were taken at the session.