Evanston amends landlord-tenant rules: AC and internet now essential services; new fee and notice limits take effect Jan. 1, 2025

Evanston’s amended Residential Landlord Tenant Ordinance (RLTO), effective Jan. 1, 2025, introduces new tenant protections and disclosure requirements that apply to most rental units in the city, a City of Evanston housing official and a tenants’ advocate said during a city webinar.

Anna Elisaraga, housing and economic development staff for the City of Evanston, and Philip Devon, staff attorney for the Metropolitan Tenants Organization, walked webinar attendees through the ordinance changes and how they affect leases, deposits, fees, repairs, landlord entry and eviction notices.

The changes matter because the ordinance covers “almost every unit in the city,” Devon said, and because several common landlord practices are now restricted or must be disclosed to prospective tenants. "It's really important that renters know their rights and the rules and obligations that come along with leasing an apartment," Devon said.

Most rentals remain covered; a limited list of exclusions includes educational residences (for example, sororities, fraternities and dormitories), religious institutions, medical facilities and licensed transitional facilities, shelters and rooming houses. When a unit is excluded, the landlord must disclose that exclusion in marketing materials and during the application process.

Leases and disclosures

Under the amended ordinance, leases must be in writing and include the full names and birth dates of all occupants. Landlords must disclose whether the landlord or…