Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 5-12 § 5-12-095
Tenants' notification of foreclosure action (Chicago Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (RLTO))
Operative Text
(a) Within seven (7) days of being served a foreclosure complaint, as defined in 735 ILCS 5/15-1504, an owner or landlord of a premises that is the subject of the foreclosure complaint shall disclose, in writing, to all tenants of the premises that a foreclosure action has been filed against the owner or landlord. An owner or landlord shall also disclose, in writing, the notice of foreclosure to any other third party who has a consistent pattern and practice of paying rent to the owner or landlord on behalf of a tenant. Before a tenant initially enters into a rental agreement for a dwelling unit, the owner or landlord shall also disclose, in writing, that he is named in a foreclosure complaint. The written disclosure shall include the court in which the foreclosure action is pending, the case name, and case number and shall include the following language: "This is not a notice to vacate the premise. This notice does not mean ownership of the building has changed. All tenants are still responsible for payment of rent and other obligations under the rental agreement. The owner or landlord is still responsible for their obligations under the rental agreement. You shall receive additional notice if there is a change in owner." (b) If the owner or landlord fails to comply with this section, the tenant may terminate the rental agreement by written notice. The written notice shall specify the date of termination no later than thirty (30) days from the date of the written notice. In addition, if a tenant in a civil legal proceeding against an owner or landlord establishes that a violation of this section has occurred, he shall be entitled to recover Two Hundred and no/100 Dollars ($200.00) in damages, in addition to any other damages or remedies that the tenant may also be entitled. (Added Coun. J. 10-8-08, p. 39857, § 2)
Section 5-12-095 of the Chicago Municipal Code requires property owners and landlords to notify all current tenants in writing within seven days of being served a foreclosure complaint. The written notice must include specific court information—such as the case name and number—and a standardized statement clarifying that tenants are not required to vacate and that all rental obligations remain in effect. Landlords must also provide this disclosure to prospective tenants before any new rental agreement is signed, and to any third parties who regularly pay rent on a tenant's behalf.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 5-12-095, a compliant landlord acts promptly upon being served a foreclosure complaint, delivering written notices to all current tenants within the seven-day window and including the required court name, case name, and case number alongside the mandated statutory language. Operators also ensure that any prospective tenant is informed of the pending foreclosure before signing a lease, and that third-party rent payers with a consistent pattern of payment receive the same written disclosure. Failure to meet these requirements exposes the landlord to tenant lease termination rights and a statutory damages award of $200 per violation, in addition to any other damages a court may award.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 5-12-095 gives tenants the right to receive written notice of a foreclosure action filed against their landlord within seven days of the complaint being served, along with specific court details and a statement confirming that tenancy obligations and protections remain unchanged. If a landlord fails to provide this notice, a tenant may have the right to terminate the rental agreement by delivering written notice specifying a termination date no more than 30 days out. Tenants who establish a violation of § 5-12-095 in a civil proceeding may be entitled to recover $200 in statutory damages on top of any other applicable remedies; tenant-rights organizations in Chicago can help explain what options may be available in a given situation.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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