McCook — Ch. 18 Art. XIV Rental Housing § 18-401
Definitions
Operative Text
For the purposes of this article, the following terms are hereby defined: Building commissioner means the building commissioner of the Village of McCook or designee. Common area means any area in a building that is not within a dwelling unit and is or may be used by a tenant or occupant of a dwelling unit located within that building. Dwelling unit means any part of a building used as a residence or sleeping place by one or more persons in consideration for the payment of rental income. Landlord means any owner (i.e., person, trustee, corporation, partnership, association, membership, cooperative, or business entity) of a dwelling unit possessed by a tenant in consideration for the payment of rental income. Lease agreement means any lease or rental agreement containing the terms of occupancy of a dwelling unit by a tenant. Owner shall mean the person or entity that holds legal title to the real property. If legal title is held by a land trust, owner shall include the beneficial owner or owners of the land trust. If there is a purchaser or purchasers under a real estate installment sales contract, owner shall include the purchaser or purchasers. If the owner hires or uses a rental manager, then the owner shall be responsible for all actions or inactions of the rental manager. Property Maintenance Code means the code in effect pursuant to section 18-241 of the McCook Code. Rental housing means any real estate, including a condominium unit, containing one or more dwelling units occupied by a tenant for which rental income is paid. Rental income means any monetary rent or other consideration exchanged for or in connection with the use or occupancy of a dwelling unit. Tenant means a person occupying a dwelling unit pursuant to a lease agreement. Tenant list means a list of all dwelling units licensed or to be licensed, the name of the tenant as it appears on the lease agreement, the number of occupants residing in the dwelling unit, and the names and ages of the occupants of the dwelling unit.
Section 18-401 of McCook's Rental Housing article (Ch. 18, Art. XIV) establishes the foundational vocabulary used throughout the article's regulations. Key terms such as 'landlord,' 'tenant,' 'dwelling unit,' 'rental housing,' and 'rental income' are given specific meanings that govern how all subsequent provisions in the article are interpreted. Notably, the definition of 'owner' extends responsibility to beneficial owners of land trusts, installment-sale purchasers, and—critically—owners remain accountable for the actions or inactions of any rental manager they employ. These definitions set the interpretive boundaries for all rights, duties, and procedures described elsewhere in the article.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 18-401, property owners in McCook should be aware that the article's definition of 'owner' is broad: it encompasses land trust beneficiaries, installment-sale purchasers, and holds owners responsible for the conduct of any rental manager they hire or use. Compliant operators typically ensure that their management arrangements are structured with this accountability in mind, since the Village's Building Commissioner can look to the owner regardless of who is handling day-to-day operations. Familiarity with all defined terms in § 18-401—including 'tenant list' and 'lease agreement'—helps operators understand the scope of their obligations under the rest of Article XIV.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 18-401 defines 'tenant' as a person occupying a dwelling unit under a lease agreement, which means the protections and requirements throughout McCook's Rental Housing article (Ch. 18, Art. XIV) apply based on that formal relationship. The definition of 'owner' in § 18-401 is significant for tenants because it means the property owner—not just a rental manager—bears responsibility for how the property is managed. Tenants who believe their rights under Article XIV have been affected may consider contacting the McCook Building Commissioner's office or a local tenant-rights organization to understand how these definitions apply to their 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 November 6, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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