Mayor wins narrow committee vote

Chicago's Housing Committee approved Mayor Johnson's revised Protecting Renters Ordinance 12-9 after he dropped a provision requiring landlords to pay relocation fees to evicted tenants.

Key concession to win support

Johnson removed the 'just cause' eviction provision that would have required landlords to compensate tenants forced to move through no fault of their own.

Earlier changes to the proposal

The mayor previously exempted owner-occupied buildings of six units or less and removed a $10,000 compensation requirement for tenants facing unconscionable rent increases.

Villegas leads opposition faction

Zoning Committee Chair Gilbert Villegas has proposed an alternative ordinance backed by real estate interests who spent millions opposing Johnson's housing referendum.

Villegas calls it a rent tariff

Villegas argues the mayor's ordinance will raise rents and compares it to Trump's tariffs, saying it will be passed on to renters at a time when affordability is already an issue.

“This is going to raise rents. We see this as no different than Trump's tariffs. We see this as a rent tariff, which will be passed on to the renters.”

Political motivations at play

Villegas says Johnson is using the ordinance to activate Chicago's 600,000 renters for the election, while he's taking a more pragmatic approach.

“The mayor is using this as an opportunity to try to sway people. Half the city are renters. He wants to get them activated for the election.”

Housing Committee chair fires back

Byron Sigcho-Lopez accuses Villegas of overstepping by introducing a housing ordinance in the Zoning Committee and suspects real estate industry money is behind the move.

“I'm not sure what Ald. Villegas is doing in Zoning, but it clearly is overstepping, and I'm suspecting it's because of the money that he's getting from the real estate industry.”

First major rewrite in 40 years

Johnson's ordinance represents the first significant update to Chicago's Landlord Tenants Ordinance since former Mayor Harold Washington championed it four decades ago.

Landlord registry to track ownership

The ordinance would create a registry logging who owns Chicago's 500,000 rental units and whether landlords comply with the law, addressing how limited liability companies mask ownership.

New rental housing bureau

Johnson's plan creates a Bureau of Rental Housing Services to establish and enforce standards for safe and sanitary living conditions in rental properties.

Renters Bill of Rights included

The ordinance requires landlords to explain all fees clearly, bans move-in fees, and forces landlords to choose between monthly or annual pet fees.

Registration fee funds enforcement

The ordinance includes a $20 annual registration fee per unit, expected to raise $22 million yearly for inspections, attorneys, and enforcement costs.

Villegas' alternative has no fees

His competing ordinance includes no registration fee, no new rental housing bureau, no Tenant Bill of Rights, no new hires, and does not ban junk fees.

Landlords warn of unintended consequences

Building owners say the 100 new rules and regulations will force many to sell to outside buyers including hedge funds rather than local owners.

“By adding 100 or so rules and regulations, it's gonna be too much for many of our owners and the temptation is going to be to sell to buyers who are not local.”

Rents up 9.5% since 2023

Advocates counter that Chicago has seen the highest rent increases in the country since 2023, with no limits on move-in or move-out fees.

“Chicago rents have increased by 9.5% since 2023, which she called the highest increase in the country.”

Next step: Zoning Committee vote

Villegas plans to push his alternative ordinance through the Zoning Committee on Thursday, setting up a full City Council choice between the two competing proposals.