Last updated October 13, 2026
Apartment hunting in Chicago moves fast and follows the seasons. Most people start looking about a month before they want to move, and the busiest stretch runs from May through September. Expect to pay your first month’s rent plus either a non-refundable move-in fee or a security deposit when you sign. Most rentals are covered by the city’s Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance, one of the most tenant-friendly sets of rules in the country, and apartment locators can help you search at no cost to you.
When should you start looking?
About 30 to 45 days before you want to move in. Chicago landlords usually list apartments a month or two before they’re available, so that’s when you’ll see the most choice for your date. Start much earlier and most of what you see will be gone or won’t be available in time. Start later and you’ll be choosing from what’s left.
The market has a strong season. May through September is peak apartment-hunting time, and a large share of leases start on July 1. In summer, good apartments can go the same day they’re shown, so be ready to apply on the spot. One study of rental listings found Chicago rents tend to peak around September and October and are lowest around March and April, so if your timing is flexible, the off-season can mean more room to negotiate and less competition.
Most Chicago leases run 12 months and start on the 1st of the month. If your move date is mid-month, ask about a prorated first month.
What kinds of apartments will you see?
Chicago has its own housing vocabulary. Knowing the terms helps you read listings and know what to expect.
| Type | What it is | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| High-rise | A large tower, mostly downtown and along the lakefront | Doorman or front desk, elevators, gym and other amenities; usually the highest rents |
| Mid-rise or new construction | A newer building of a few to a dozen floors | In-unit laundry and central air are common; rents are on the higher side |
| Courtyard building | An older U-shaped building around a garden courtyard | Classic vintage apartments with walk-up stairs; often radiator heat and shared laundry |
| Two-flat or three-flat | A small building with one apartment on each floor | Usually a smaller landlord who may live in the building; more space for the money |
| Greystone | A two- or three-flat with a limestone front, common in older neighborhoods | Character and space; heating and windows vary a lot from building to building |
| Garden unit | An apartment partly below ground level, with windows near the sidewalk | Often the least expensive unit in a building; check light, moisture and ceiling height |
Where do you find apartments?
- Listing sites. National sites like Zillow and Apartments.com carry most of the market. Chicago also has its own local listing site, Domu, which many smaller landlords use.
- Building websites. Large buildings often list availability, specials and floor plans on their own websites.
- Apartment locators. Chicago has a well-established apartment locator industry. A locator searches for you, sets up and often drives you to showings, and helps you apply. For renters, the service is typically free, because the landlord pays the locator’s commission when you sign.
- Walking the neighborhood. Some small landlords still put a “For Rent” sign in the window. If you know the area you want, it’s worth a walk.
What do Chicago landlords check when you apply?
Most landlords and management companies review your income, credit and rental history. Many look for income of roughly three times the monthly rent, though standards vary by building. Have these ready before you start touring, so you can apply the same day:
- A government photo ID
- Proof of income: recent pay stubs, or an offer letter if you’re starting a new job
- Contact information for your current and past landlords
- A way to pay the application fee and, if you’re approved, the move-in costs
If your income or credit history is thin, as is common for recent grads, ask whether the building accepts a guarantor (often a parent who co-signs) or a larger payment up front.
What will you pay up front?
Usually an application fee, your first month’s rent, and either a non-refundable move-in fee or a refundable security deposit. Many Chicago landlords choose the move-in fee because the city’s rules for holding deposits are strict: deposits must be kept in a separate interest-bearing account, tenants are owed interest, and the deposit (minus any unpaid rent and damage) must be returned within 45 days of moving out. Move-in fees are typically a few hundred dollars up to about $1,000. They cost less up front than a full deposit, but you don’t get them back.
Budget for other costs too: movers or a truck, an elevator reservation or move-in fee in some high-rises, renters insurance, and utility setup.
What should you check when you tour an apartment?
- Heat: what kind, and who pays. Many older Chicago buildings have radiators with heat included in the rent. Others have a separate furnace you pay for through your gas bill. If heat is separately metered, Chicago requires the landlord to give you a heating cost disclosure before you sign. Ask for it.
- Air conditioning. Many vintage buildings have no central air. Ask whether window units are allowed.
- Laundry. In-unit, in the building, or down the street.
- Windows and drafts, which matter a lot in winter.
- Signs of pests or water damage, especially in garden units.
- Parking, if you have a car. Ask whether the street is a permit-parking zone.
- Your commute. Time the walk to the nearest ‘L’ station or bus route.
- Who manages the building, and how to reach them for repairs.
What rights do Chicago renters have?
Most Chicago rentals are covered by the Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (RLTO). Some of its key protections:
- Notice before a rent increase or non-renewal. Under the city’s Fair Notice Ordinance, landlords must give at least 30 days’ notice if you’ve lived there less than six months, 60 days if you’ve lived there six months to three years, and 120 days if you’ve lived there more than three years.
- No early renewal pressure. You can’t be required to renew a lease more than 90 days before it ends.
- Notice before entry. Except in emergencies, landlords generally must give two days’ notice before entering your apartment.
- Heat. From September 15 to June 1, landlords must keep apartments at least 68°F from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and 66°F overnight.
- Security deposit protections, described above.
When you sign, your landlord should also give you a summary of the RLTO. Keep it with your lease.
How do you avoid rental scams?
- Never send money for an apartment you haven’t seen in person or by live video with someone who can show they control it.
- Be wary of rents far below what similar apartments cost, or a “landlord” who is out of the country.
- Don’t pay with wire transfers, gift cards or cryptocurrency.
- If you can’t tour in person, use a locator, a known management company, or a friend who can see it for you.
Frequently asked questions about renting in Chicago
When is the best time to rent in Chicago?
The most apartments are available from May through September, but competition is highest then too. Rents tend to be lowest around March and April and highest around September and October.
How far in advance should you look?
About 30 to 45 days before your move-in date, which is when most apartments for that date are listed.
Do apartment locators cost money in Chicago?
Not usually for renters. Locators are typically paid a commission by the landlord when you sign a lease.
What is a move-in fee?
A one-time, non-refundable fee many Chicago landlords charge instead of a security deposit, typically a few hundred dollars up to about $1,000.
What is a garden unit?
An apartment partly below street level, with windows near the sidewalk. It’s often the least expensive unit in a building.
How much notice does a landlord need to give before raising rent?
At least 30, 60 or 120 days, depending on whether you’ve lived in the apartment less than six months, six months to three years, or more than three years.
Sources
- Fair Notice Ordinance: City of Chicago, Know Your Rights: Fair Notice Ordinance
- Renter rights, entry notice and deposit return: City of Chicago, Renting Right booklet
- Heat requirements: City of Chicago, Chicago Heat Ordinance
- Renewal timing and heating cost disclosure: Domu, Rent Increase Notice guide; Domu, Landlord’s Guide to the Chicago Heat Ordinance
- Move-in fees and deposits: Domu, Guide to Security Deposit Laws
- Rental season and timing: Domu; RentHop, Best Time of Year to Rent; Time Out Chicago; Lucid Realty, When Exactly Is Chicago’s Apartment Rental Season? (lease start months)
