As I discussed just a few days back, we will take a closer look at rental regulations in the suburbs of Chicago. The newest addition to the mix is the Village of Buffalo Grove’s Residential Rental Housing Program which was passed near the end of 2012 and is now in effect starting as of January 1, 2013. Established under the auspices of protecting the community’s health, safety, and welfare (that’s the justification given by most “home rule communities” [as defined by Article 7 Section 6 of the Illinois Constitution] that enact these kind of laws), the new program seeks to set minimum housing standards, stabilize residential areas, keep up housing conditions, and maintain property values.
Regulation
Landlords, it is now “heating season”!
September 15 marks “heating season” for landlords who are responsible to provide heat for their tenants. A number of municipalities have heating ordinances. Here is a small survey:
Oak Park landlords beware
Oak Park, Illinois landlords need to be aware that the Village has its own landlord tenant regulations. Although not at all as comprehensive as the CRLTO, the Oak Park Village Code imposes a number of obligations and requirements on landlords. Let’s begin today with a look at Section 12-2-11 which mandates a number of lease provisions to be included in any lease or lease application.
North Chicago’s Landlord Licensing Law
In mid-2010, the City of North Chicago passed a new ordinance (number 2010-75) requiring the regulation of rental buildings and the licensing of landlords within the city limits. The new law makes it illegal for any party to rent without a landlord license. Licenses are to cost $35 per building address per year. Licenses expire annually on April 30 or when title to at least 50% of the real estate is transferred. While the North Chicago law is not as expansive as the laws in Chicago and Evanston, the municipality now joins the ranks of the small number of municipalities who regulate local residential rental activities.