Searching for a Chicago apartment won’t be quite the same in the wake of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Renters and landlords are both adjusting to seismic changes brought on by the Coronavirus outbreak, whether that’s figuring when and how to collect rent payments, determining the safest way possible to tour apartments for rent, or knowing what's going to happen with property taxes in Cook County. The situation is very fluid and unprecedented, to say the least. Domu does not purport to have all the answers during this time, but we’re hearing good suggestions and interpreting the guidance of public officials who are working to keep Chicago’s renter population safe and healthy in these trying circumstances. This is a guide for Chicago renters and apartment landlords who are navigating the shifting landscape and looking for answers to some of their most pressing apartment questions.

Domu has been very fortunate to be both a neighbor and a neighborhood resource for the years that we’ve been operating in Chicago. We’re proud to call Chicago home, and we have tremendous faith in the resiliency and ingenuity of Chicagoans. We’ll get through this as a community and hopefully emerge more closely bonded on the other side. In the meantime, here are some of the best answers that we at Domu have seen to the most frequently asked questions surrounding apartment life during Coronavirus.

Apartment Renter Questions About Coronavirus

Apartment Landlords Questions About Coronavirus

Moving During Coronavirus

Moving services are considered an essential business so they are exempt from Governor J.B. Pritzker's stay-at-home order for the state of Illinois. Renters may have some safety lessons in mind from previous moves (remember: lift with your legs and not your back!) but there are more novel safety considerations for renters who move during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Moving crews and their support staff are taking safety into consideration while providing this vital service. Chicago moving companies are adopting safety precautions ranging from wearing gloves and masks to always riding with hand sanitizer in tow. Renters who are moving in the midst of the Coronavirus outbreak are reminded to stay vigilant, maintain social distance, and enlist the help of a fully licensed and bonded moving company (with these extra safety measures in place) if possible.

Tips for Working From Home During Coronavirus

Renters who are working at home due to the Coronavirus pandemic might first and foremost consider themselves fortunate that they're able to do their jobs safely from the comfort of home -- but questions inevitably come up in these circumstances. How much space is needed for a home office? Is the Internet connection strong enough? Will a roommate or a house pet disrupt a video call? These questions can appear quickly. If renters have previously limited practice working from home then they may learn that it's not as easy as it seems, especially if the home is shared with others who are waiting out the governor's stay-at-home order.