Chicago Tenant Rights
Your elevator is broken.
The law is on your side.
A free resource for Chicago tenants experiencing prolonged elevator outages. Know your rights under the RLTO. Send a formal notice in under two minutes.
Your Rights Under the RLTO
The Chicago Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (RLTO) provides strong protections for tenants. Elevator maintenance is explicitly listed in the ordinance as a landlord obligation — it is not a gray area.
Landlord's Duty to Maintain
The landlord shall maintain the premises in compliance with all applicable provisions of the municipal code and shall promptly make any and all repairs necessary to fulfill this obligation.
This duty covers the entire property — both your individual unit and common areas including elevators, stairwells, and hallways. Elevators must comply with the Chicago Municipal Code (Chapter 14X-10), which requires annual inspections.
Tenant Remedies
Material noncompliance with Section 5-12-070 includes, but is not limited to: ... failure to maintain elevators in compliance with applicable provisions of the municipal code.
When a landlord fails to maintain elevators, it constitutes "material noncompliance" with the lease. After providing written notice and a 14-day cure period, tenants may pursue remedies including rent withholding, damages recovery, or lease termination.
Anti-Retaliation Protections
Landlords may not retaliate against tenants who exercise their rights — including those who file complaints, request repairs, organize with neighbors, or join tenant unions. If a landlord takes adverse action within 12 months of a protected activity, it is presumed retaliatory. Tenants may recover up to two months' rent or twice their damages, plus attorney's fees.
Attorney's Fees
The prevailing plaintiff in any RLTO action recovers all court costs and reasonable attorney's fees. This makes it financially viable for tenants to bring claims, since the landlord pays the tenant's legal costs if the tenant wins.
Available Remedies
After providing written notice and waiting 14 days for the landlord to fix the issue, the RLTO provides these options:
Withhold Rent
Deduct an amount from your rent that reasonably reflects the reduced value of your unit due to the elevator outage. You must state the amount in your written notice. (§ 5-12-110(d))
Repair and Deduct
For repairs costing $500 or less (or half the monthly rent, whichever is greater), you may hire the repair yourself and deduct the cost from rent with paid receipts. (§ 5-12-110(c))
Recover Damages
File suit to recover damages based on the reduction in fair rental value, plus seek injunctive relief ordering the landlord to make repairs. Attorney's fees are recoverable. (§ 5-12-110(e))
Terminate the Lease
If the noncompliance renders the premises not reasonably fit and habitable and is not remedied within 14 days, you may terminate the rental agreement. The landlord must return all prepaid rent and security deposits. (§ 5-12-110(a))
Who does the RLTO cover? The RLTO applies to most residential rental properties in Chicago. It does not cover owner-occupied buildings with 6 or fewer units, hotels, dormitories, or non-residential rentals. If you're unsure whether the RLTO applies to your situation, contact the Metropolitan Tenants Organization hotline at (773) 292-4988.
The Process
Follow these steps to formally exercise your rights under the RLTO.
Document the Issue
Keep a written log of dates when the elevator is out of service. Take photos of out-of-service signs with timestamps. Note how long you have to wait, whether you can access your unit, and any impact on daily life (carrying groceries, mobility issues, etc.).
Send Written Notice
Email your landlord or property management company. Describe the problem, cite RLTO sections 5-12-070 and 5-12-110, and state that you are requesting the issue be remedied within 14 days. Email is sufficient under the RLTO — certified mail is not required.
Wait 14 Days
The landlord has 14 days from receiving your written notice to fix the elevator. Keep documenting the outage during this period. If the landlord makes partial repairs that don't fully resolve the issue, the clock does not reset.
Exercise Your Remedies
If the elevator is not fixed within 14 days, you may withhold a reasonable portion of your rent reflecting the reduced value of your unit, recover damages, or terminate the lease. Any remedy should be proportional to the impact of the outage.
Tip: File a 311 complaint. You can call 311 (or visit 311.chicago.gov) to request a city building inspection for elevator issues. This creates an official record of the violation, and you can remain anonymous. An inspection report from the city strengthens any future claim.
Email Template
Fill in your details below to generate a professional notice to your landlord. All fields stay in your browser — nothing is stored or sent to any server.
A common request is one month's rent, but any amount that reasonably reflects the reduced value of your unit is appropriate.
Email Preview
Subject: Formal Notice: Elevator Noncompliance — [Building Address], Unit [Unit]
Dear [Landlord/Management Company], I am writing as a tenant of [Building Address], Unit [Unit Number], located on the [Floor Number] floor. My monthly rent is $[Monthly Rent]. I am writing to formally notify you that the building's elevator service is not in compliance with the applicable provisions of the Chicago Municipal Code. Of the [Total Elevators] elevator(s) in the building, [Number Out of Service] has/have been out of service for approximately [Duration]. This ongoing outage significantly impacts my ability to access my unit and enjoy the premises I am paying for. Under the Chicago Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (RLTO), specifically: - Section 5-12-070 requires landlords to maintain the premises in compliance with all applicable building code requirements that materially affect health and safety, including the maintenance of common areas. - Section 5-12-110(a) identifies "failure to maintain elevators in compliance with applicable provisions of the municipal code" as a condition constituting material noncompliance with the rental agreement. This letter serves as the written notice required under RLTO Section 5-12-110. I am requesting that full elevator service be restored within 14 days of your receipt of this notice. Additionally, I am requesting a rent credit of $[Requested Amount] to reflect the reduced value of my unit during the period in which elevator service has been unavailable. I believe this amount reasonably reflects the diminished habitability and accessibility of the premises. If elevator service is not restored within the 14-day period, I intend to exercise the remedies available to me under the RLTO, which may include withholding a portion of rent proportional to the reduced value of the premises. I am aware that RLTO Section 5-12-150 prohibits retaliatory conduct against tenants who exercise their rights under the ordinance. I look forward to a prompt resolution of this matter. Sincerely, [Your Name] Unit [Unit Number] March 16, 2026
This template is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consider consulting with a tenant rights attorney for your specific situation.
This Has Happened Before
Elevator outages affecting Chicago tenants have been widely reported and investigated. These are real stories from Chicago buildings.
Trapped: Neglected Elevators Put Chicago's Public Housing Residents At Risk
Better Government Association / WBEZ · June 2018
A seven-month investigation found firefighters responded to elevator rescues at 54 of 88 CHA buildings — a rate four times higher than other Chicago buildings. None of the CHA's 150 elevators was inspected for the entire year of 2016.
Tenants of 8-story Chicago apartment building left with no elevator service for weeks
CBS News Chicago · September 2024
Residents of a Hyde Park apartment building were left without any elevator service for approximately six weeks after an electrical fire rendered both elevators non-operational. Tenants requested rent credits.
Lakeview Residents 'Trapped' In Apartments As Elevator Issues Plague Affordable Housing Complex
Block Club Chicago · September 2024
Residents of a seven-story affordable housing complex reported the main elevator was down for most of the summer. A wheelchair-using top-floor resident had to call the Fire Department to be carried up five flights of stairs.
Broken elevators leave seniors stuck in lobby at West Side Chicago Housing Authority building
CBS News Chicago · March 2025
At a 181-unit CHA senior high-rise, both elevators were non-functional. Seniors in wheelchairs were stranded in the lobby. A stroke survivor on the 18th floor had to be carried down on a stretcher by firefighters.
'Someone's Going To Die': Elevators At CHA Apartments Have Seniors Afraid For Their Safety
CBS News Chicago · February 2019
Elevators at a Lincoln Park CHA building failed multiple inspections over 14 months, with violations labeled "dangerous & hazardous." A 2016 citation confirmed an elevator was "jerking when in travel."
CHA building for 200 seniors in Englewood has had only one working elevator since April
CBS News Chicago · August 2022
One elevator had been non-functional since April, leaving approximately 200 residents dependent on a single elevator that broke down 3-4 times monthly. Paramedics had to carry a resident down 12 floors via stairs.
Disabled Brother, Sister Trapped In Apartment With Broken Elevator Say They Feel Like Captives
CBS News Chicago · September 2019
Two wheelchair-using siblings sharing a sixth-floor apartment were trapped for a week with no working elevator, unable to leave their unit or attend medical appointments.
Seniors take over CHA lobby to protest faulty elevators, demand oversight
Chicago Sun-Times · June 2018
Senior citizens staged a "die-in" at CHA's downtown office to protest broken elevators. They demanded new elevators in all senior buildings and accessible bathrooms with grab bars.
OUT OF ORDER — Legal advice on tenant rights when elevator is down for months
Chicago Tribune · March 1996
An attorney column explaining that under the RLTO, tenants can withhold rent for loss of elevator use, may terminate the lease with 14 days' written notice, and can claim reimbursement for extra costs caused by the outage.
Resources
Organizations and tools that can help you exercise your rights as a Chicago tenant.
Official Sources
Chicago RLTO Full Text
The official full text of the Chicago Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (Chapter 5-12) via American Legal Publishing.
City of Chicago RLTO Summary (PDF)
The official plain-language summary of tenant and landlord rights and obligations under the RLTO. Landlords are required to provide this to tenants.
Chicago RLTO Information Page
The Department of Housing's RLTO information page. Contact: 312-744-3653 or DOH@cityofchicago.org.
Chicago 311 — File a Complaint
Report elevator issues to the City of Chicago. Request a building inspection to create an official record. You can file anonymously online, by phone (call 311), or through the CHI311 app.
Chicago Dept. of Buildings — Elevator Bureau
The city office responsible for elevator inspections, accident investigations, and 311 complaint responses. Phone: 312-743-3594.
Tenant Organizations
Metropolitan Tenants Organization (MTO)
Chicago's leading tenant rights organization. Free tenant counseling, organizing support, and RLTO guidance. Renters' Rights Hotline: (773) 292-4988, Mon-Fri 1-5 PM.
Autonomous Tenants Union (ATU)
A tenant-led organization supporting Chicago renters through direct action, mutual aid, and tenant organizing.
All-Chicago Tenant Alliance (ACTA)
Organization of Chicago tenant unions building durable, organized tenant power across the city.
Chicago Tenants Movement
Collaborative network of tenant organizations and housing organizers that helps renters build democratic tenant unions.
Free Legal Aid
Legal Aid Chicago (formerly LAF)
Free civil legal assistance for low-income Chicagoans, including tenant rights cases. Phone: (312) 341-1070. Apply online or by phone.
CARPLS Legal Aid
Free legal advice by phone for Cook County residents. Hotline: (312) 738-9200, Mon-Fri 9 AM-4:30 PM, plus evening hours Mon & Wed 4:30-7:30 PM.
Law Center for Better Housing (LCBH)
The only non-profit law firm in Chicago focusing solely on low-to-moderate income renters in the private housing market. Phone: (312) 347-7600.
Illinois Legal Aid Online
Free legal information, forms, and guides on tenant rights under the RLTO. Includes an online intake system for finding legal help.
Uptown People's Law Center
Free legal services for tenants in select North Side zip codes (60613, 60625, 60626, 60640, 60660). Walk-in hours Tue & Thu 10 AM-4 PM. Phone: (773) 769-1411.
Chicago Right to Counsel Program
Free full legal representation for Chicago residents facing eviction with household income at or below 80% AMI. Call (855) 956-5763.
Organize with your neighbors. The RLTO explicitly protects your right to organize with other tenants (Section 5-12-150). Tenant unions and organized groups are recognized under the ordinance, and landlords are prohibited from retaliating against tenants who participate in collective action. A coordinated effort from multiple tenants is often more effective than individual requests.