City of Evanston
Home MenuLandlord and Tenant Resources
RENTERS RESOURCES
Affordable Housing & Homeless Resources
A comprehensive contacts list of local housing options and agencies that provide affordable housing, public housing and housing for seniors and those with special needs.
Relief for Renters
Looking for rent assistance, or other housing assistance ? Rent assistance may be available! Contact the Suburban Cook County Entry Point at (877) 426-6515 or call Connections for the Homeless Prevention voicemail at 847-475-7070 ext. 134 to learn about the City of Evanston, Cook or State of Illinois rent assistance programs available.
Centralized Waitlist for Inclusionary Housing (IHO) Affordable Units
The City has partnered with Community Partners for Affordable Housing (CPAH) to manage its centralized waitlist for affordable units provided through the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance.
If you are interested in getting on the waitlist, please complete the pre-application on CPAH's website. If you have questions, please contact CPAH at 847-681-8746.
City of Evanston Waitlist Policies and Procedures
City of Evanston Annual Income Re-Verification Procedures
Energy Assistance
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps eligible low-income households pay for home energy services, including heating, gas, propane and electricity. LIHEAP income eligibility is now 200% of the federal poverty line (up from 150%.) Additionally, income eligible households may also submit a pre-application for Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funding that can help pay for rent, temporary shelter, food, and other household necessities. CSBG income eligibility is also up to 200% of the federal poverty line.
More information, including the pre-application form, is available on DCEO's website.
Learn more: Help Illinois Families Flyer
Property Standards Cases
KEY DOCUMENTS
The City of Evanston is committed to promoting non-discrimination and ensuring fair and equal housing opportunities for all Evanston residents. Below are City ordinances related to housing rights and the model lease agreement:
- Evanston’s Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (PDF)
- Evanston's Fair Housing Ordinance - Amended and went into effect on October 11, 2022. Landlords are encouraged to review Title 5, Chapter 5 “Fair Housing".
- Evanston Model Lease Agreement and Notices
- Protect against lead in your home (English/Spanish)
Additional information about Fair Housing may be found in the City’s Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice.
LANDLORDS & TENANTS GUIDANCE / MEDIATION
The City of Evanston has contracted Metropolitan Tenants Organization (MTO) and Lawyers Committee for Better Housing (LCBH) for residents and landlords needing assistance with landlord-tenant issues.
MTO Hotline : contact through 311 or directly at 773-292-4988.
Operating Hours: Monday through Friday, 1-5pm.
Callers can also leave a message outside opening hours. MTO will get back to you within 2 business days.
You can also use the MTO Texting feature:
MTO Text : Text 'Evanston' to 205-736-0293
Operating Hours: Monday through Sunday, 24 hours a day. MTO will get back to you within 1-2 business days.
In addition, MTO is partnering with Lawyers Committee for Better Housing for legal consultation services. This collaboration with LCBH will help low-income tenants avoid displacement through free legal representation in eviction cases and illegal lockouts.
|
|
|
|
|
LANDLORDS RESOURCES
To register your rental building(s), please click below.
"RENT EVANSTON" Initiative
RENT Evanston is a City initiative to empower and connect landlords, property owners, and property managers in our city. RENT stands for Rental Empowerment, Networking, and Training. In addition to newsletters, the City will hold training sessions and discussions on topics relevant to property management and ownership. All RENT Evanston sessions are free to attend.
Join us in this initiative to protect investments and property values, and to help make Evanston a more livable city! For more information please visit the Rental Registration page or sign-up here to receive the e-newsletter.
Have affordable rental units that are vacant and available to rent?
Sign-up on this form so our local partners looking for affordable housing for their clients can get in touch and help you fill vacant units.
Security Deposit Interest Rates
If a landlord (or property manager) asks for a security deposit, the landlord is required to pay interest if they hold the security deposit for 6 or more months. If the tenant stays in the apartment 12 or more months after they signed their first lease, the landlord can choose between paying the interest on the security deposit or reducing the rent for one month by the amount of interest owed. After the tenant moves out, the landlord must pay them all the interest owed within 30 days.
To figure out how much interest a landlord owes, multiply the security deposit amount by the number in the table below.
Interest rates prior to 2008 are available on Chicago's Interest rates for Security Deposits page.
| Year lease signed | Chicago rate | Illinois rate |
| 2023 | 0.01% | 0.01% |
| 2022 | 0.01% | 0.01% |
| 2021 | 0.01% |
0.01% |
| 2020 | 0.01% | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 0.01% | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 0.01% | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 0.01% | 0.01% |
| 2016 | 0.01% | 0.05% |
| 2015 | 0.01% | 0.005% |
| 2014 | 0.013% | 0.005% |
| 2013 | 0.023% | 0.005% |
| 2012 | 0.057% | 0.005% |
| 2011 | 0.073% | 0.195% |
| 2010 | 0.073% | 0.095% |
| 2009 | .12% | 0.25% |
| 2008 | 1.26% | 0.35% |
HEALTHY HOMES
Historically, the City of Evanston Health & Human Services Department's focus has been lead in homes built prior to 1978. Recently Healthy Homes, a program developed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the United States Department of Urban Development (USHUD) has caused the department to look at all the parts of a home that influence the health of those inside.
Healthy Homes is made up of of seven principles to keep your home safe, derived from the National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH):
- Keep it Dry: Prevent water from entering your home through leaks in the roof, rain water from entering the home due to poor drainage, and check your plumbing for leaks. Moisture in your home can be a source of mold.
- Keep it Clean: Control the Source of dust and contaminants, creating smooth and cleanable surfaces, reducing clutter, and using effective wet-cleaning methods.
- Keep it Safe: Store poisons out of the reach of children and properly label. Secure loose rugs and keep children's play areas free from hard or sharp surfaces. Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and keep fire extinguishers on hand.
- Keep it Well-Ventilated: Ventilate bathrooms and kitchens and use whole house ventilation for supplying fresh air to reduce the concentration of contaminants in the home.
- Keep it Pest-Free: All pests look for food, water and shelter. Seal cracks and openings throughout the home; store food in pest resistant containers. If needed, use sticky-traps and baits in closed containers, along with least toxic pesticides.
- Keep it Contaminant-Free: Reduce lead-related hazards in pre-1978 homes by fixing deteriorated paint, and keeping floors and window areas clean using a wet- cleaning approach. Test your home for radon, a naturally occurring dangerous gas that enters homes through soil, crawlspaces, and foundation cracks.
- Keep it Maintained: Inspect, clean and repair your home routinely, call the Community Development Department to find out if you need a Building Permit. Take care of minor repairs and problems before they become large repairs and problems.
Call the Health & Human Services Department at 847/859.7831 for more information or check out the CDC's Healthy Homes Page: CDC Healthy Homes Page