Chicago City Council is set to consider two rival renter‑protection measures as early as next week. The mayor’s Protecting Renters Ordinance (PRO) cleared the housing committee by a 12‑9 vote after the Johnson administration removed several provisions, including “just cause” lease‑renewal requirements and mandatory relocation assistance.
Key components of PRO
PRO would establish a citywide rental registry, a tenant bill of rights, and a ban on many so‑called “junk fees.” It also creates a new Bureau of Rental Housing Services within the Department of Housing, funded by a per‑unit fee on landlords. Mayor Brandon Johnson said the ordinance is “the only option that takes concrete steps to rein in the affordability crisis while providing the City the tools it needs to keep Chicagoans safe in their homes.”
FAIR ordinance offers a different approach
The competing FAIR ordinance passed the zoning committee 12‑6. Like PRO, it would create a registry of building owners and ban certain junk fees, but it would house a smaller Office of Rental Services within the Department of Buildings rather than Housing. Unlike PRO, FAIR permits landlords to charge move‑in fees that are “reasonably related to estimated costs associated with the tenant moving in,” according to sponsor Alderman Gilbert Villegas (36th).
Stakeholder reactions
Real‑estate owner Ron Abrams, who manages about 2,000 units, warned that PRO could push rents higher, saying the new bureaucracy and fee caps would be passed on to tenants like rising property taxes. Alderman Villegas framed his bill as a compromise that protects renters without overburdening landlords.
Progressive voices remain critical of FAIR. Julie Dworkin, co‑director of the Institute for the Public Good, argued that FAIR fails to provide legal support for evictions, does not ban move‑in fees, and lacks funding for its proposed office, calling a vote for FAIR “a vote against Chicago’s 600,000 renter families.”
Enforcement questions
Buildings Commissioner Marlene Hopkins noted her staff lacks the expertise to handle tenant disputes, while Housing Commissioner Lissette Castañeda and Alderman Bennett Lawson (44th) pointed out that the Department of Housing also lacks code‑enforcement inspectors. Both departments would need new resources to enforce either ordinance effectively.
Next steps
The full council will debate the bills in the coming days, with aldermen urging a quick resolution before the budget process dominates the agenda. Mayor Johnson retains veto power over FAIR, while a 34‑vote supermajority would be required to override a veto. PRO needs only 26 votes to pass.
Further negotiations may produce tweaks or a compromise that blends elements of both proposals.
Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.
