Philip Devon, a staff attorney with the Metropolitan Tenants Organization, summarized tenants’ rights and housing-provider responsibilities under the City of Evanston’s Residential Landlord Tenant Ordinance during an informational presentation to city officials.

Devon said tenants “have a right to a habitable unit, reasonable access to utilities, and protection against retaliation from their housing provider.” He added that tenants may request repairs and, in some cases, withhold rent or terminate a lease if necessary repairs are not made.

The presentation outlined why the ordinance matters for renters and landlords in Evanston. Devon said landlords must maintain units “up to applicable building codes and standards,” disclose management contact information and, if a building is sold, provide the new owner’s contact details, and must not include lease provisions that waive tenant rights or impose “unreasonable fees” or “excessive late fees.” He also emphasized that landlords must give “90 days notice anytime they wish to terminate, renew, or raise the rent on a tenant's lease.”

Devon described tenant responsibilities under the ordinance as well: keeping units safe and clean, disposing of trash properly, using appliances and utilities in a manner that preserves them, complying with lease provisions, and allowing reasonable access for repairs or inspections. He noted the ordinance bars retaliation — which can take the form of eviction, a rent increase, or a decrease in services — and said such retaliatory actions can entitle tenants to damages in Circuit Court.

On renters insurance, Devon said tenants are not required under the ordinance to purchase a policy, but landlords may include a lease provision that requires renters insurance and that tenants often benefit from carrying affordable coverage for personal belongings in events such as fire or flood.

This presentation was informational; the transcript contains no formal motions, votes, or directives recorded on the matter.