Over several meetings and weeks of discussions regarding the Residential Tenant and Landlord Ordinance (RTLO), bill sponsors abruptly delayed (by 30 days) a committee vote in the Zoning and Building Committee on Dec. 16.
Illinois REALTORS® has been involved in a task force with other real estate groups, tenant right groups and commissioners. Lobbying efforts were aggressive after weeks of talks with minor changes to the proposal. As a result of the combined efforts, two Calls For Actions (CFAs) and meetings with commissioners, modifications were made to the RTLO two days before the scheduled committee meeting.
While many of these modifications were a step in the right direction, several concerns remain. The delay provides additional time to improve the RTLO language before final passage (expected in January). Some of the unresolved points include:
- the scope of an ordinance exemption for single-family homes and condos that are rented out;
- cap on late rent payment fees;
- lease renewal notice time frames.
It is expected that the task force will regroup in early January 2021.