Landlords win case over move-in fee in lieu of security deposit
For a number of years, landlords in the City of Chicago have sought to avoid the undue burdens and unreasonable potential liability resulting from the Chicago Residential Landlord Tenant Ordinance’s requirements related to security deposits by collecting all kinds of “non-refundable fees”. Some landlord collect a “non-refundable processing fee”, administrative fee, additional rent, or a “non-refundable move-in fee”. Tenants rights attorneys and advocates have long shouted “no fair!” at landlords engaging in such practices. One advocate I know said “this is just the way landlords are trying to avoid liability for security deposit violations!” Duh!