For tenants, a security deposit is preferable to a move-in fee. The deposit remains the tenant’s property even in the landlord's hands. Assuming the tenant doesn’t do any significant damage to the premises or withhold the rent improperly, the tenant will get that deposit returned. On the other hand, a move-in fee is money that the tenant will never see again – as soon as the tenant pays the move-in fee, it becomes the property of the landlord.  

An apartment in Chicago has caught your eye and your heart. Now it is time to convince the landlord that you are the ideal tenant. Most landlords vet potential tenants using a similar application process.  Here’s what you can expect:

Is There an Application Fee in Chicago Apartments? 

Moving into a new apartment can put renters on an emotional rollercoaster, from the apartment search process to signing the lease to getting the keys and finally moving in. It’s easy to overlook some things when you're caught up in the whirlwind of emotions, facts and figures. So in the spirit of thoroughness, here’s a room-by-room rundown of all the things you should check before moving in to that apartment for rent.

Still searching? Find Chicago apartments for rent

The search for pet friendly apartments shouldn’t leave you chasing your own tail. Domu makes it simple to locate apartments throughout Chicago and its neighborhoods that welcome you and your pets. 

Search the selection of Chicago apartments that meet these criteria:

• Dog friendly apartments

Chicago landlords are required to provide certain recycling information to tenants when the lease is signed, extended, and renewed. Domu’s Recycling Information Form does most of the work for you – it explains which items are recyclable, how to prepare them for recycling, and which items are not recyclable. The form also prompts you to fill in the property-specific recycling information required by the 2017 Chicago Recycling Ordinance – specifically, the location of the blue containers, the pick-up schedule, the name of the hauler (buildings of 5 units or more mus

Domu's 2025 Chicago Lease Is Designed to Comply with The Chicago Residential Landlord Tenant Ordinance 

Domu's free Chicago apartment lease form will help you simplify the leasing process. It is designed for Chicago landlords seeking to comply with the Chicago Residential Landlord Tenant Ordinance (the "CRLTO") and Illinois law. It is not designed for use with apartments outside the Chicago city limits. The CRLTO requires landlords to include many forms with the lease, so we've appended them to this lease for you.

We are excited to work with Johnny Burbano Photography to offer Domu users a special discount of $110 per photoshoot.

Check out his website here.

Johnny Burbano Photography
312.375.3557 
johnnyburbano1@gmail.com