Chicago Landlords Are Charging Hundreds In Move-In Fees. Renters Want To Know Why – Block Club Chicago

The shift could be tied to the city’s Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance, which imposes strict rules on how landlords must handle security deposits, said Jeff Weinberg, founder of Drexel Properties and co-president of the Northwest Side Building Coalition. To avoid the legal risks that come with handling security deposits, many landlords have turned to move-in fees as a simpler alternative.