REALTORS® helped convince the Village of South Holland to drop a temporary rental moratorium and consider other solutions for rental properties in disrepair.

Illinois REALTORS® local Governmental Affairs Director (GAD) Tom Joseph and members of the Mainstreet Organization of REALTORS® (MORe) met multiple times with the South Holland mayor and Village officials to object to passage of a temporary rental moratorium ordinance earlier in the summer.  Joseph and members of the MORe governmental affairs committee urged the Village to focus its attention on properties in violation of Village ordinances rather than using broad policies to prevent more rentals.

The Village dropped the moratorium and capped rentals at 15 percent.

South Holland has approximately 9,000 single-family homes. There are no multifamily rental properties. In recent years, the number of homes offered as rentals has risen to nearly 1,000, with some neighborhoods having a larger percentage than others. Some residents and elected officials view the recent shift toward rentals as a culture change.

“Even though we are still concerned about this ordinance, Illinois REALTORS® legal research is inconclusive as to how far the village can go under its home rule authority,” says Joseph. “Rental purchases are allowed now but may need to meet new rental licensing restrictions if the property is in a high-percentage rental neighborhood.

“We encourage members to contact the Village before listing and presenting properties to prospective buyers who are seeking investments,” says Joseph.