When renting in Chicago, budget for more than the advertised monthly rent. Your move-in total may include an application or tenant-screening charge, first rent payment, a refundable security deposit or a non-refundable move-in fee, and separate costs for utilities, parking, storage, internet, pets, or brokerage services. The exact combination is property-specific. Before paying, request a written, itemized statement showing each charge, when it is due, and whether it is refundable.
Start with two separate budgets: cash to get the keys and monthly cost to live there
A useful Chicago rental budget has two parts. The first is the amount due before or at move-in. The second is the recurring monthly outlay after you take possession.
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Cash due before move-in
- Application or tenant-screening charge, if the landlord requires one.
- Any holding payment made before the lease is signed.
- First month’s rent, plus any prorated rent required by the lease’s start date.
- A security deposit, a move-in fee, or both, if the landlord’s arrangement calls for them.
- One-time charges for parking, storage, pets, keys, building access, or other services when listed in the agreement.
Recurring monthly outlay
- Base rent.
- Utilities not included in rent, such as electricity, gas, water, or internet.
- Parking, storage, pet charges, or other recurring services.
- Any installment or recurring charge expressly stated in the lease or a separate written agreement.
Compare apartments using both totals. A unit with a lower advertised rent can cost more each month once utilities, parking, storage, and other mandatory charges are added.
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Ask what an application charge covers, whether it is charged per applicant, and whether the landlord is passing through only the screening cost or adding another amount. The sources reviewed do not establish a universal Chicago market price, so an advertised “typical” amount should not be treated as a citywide rule.
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Illinois’ HB 3564 is reported to take effect January 1, 2027. The Chicago Association of REALTORS® summary says an application fee may reflect actual tenant-screening cost. For a charge above $50, the summary describes additional conditions: the landlord must pay the third-party screening provider in advance and bill the applicant with a receipt within 14 days. It also describes restrictions on unrelated or duplicate screening add-ons. Because the effective date, exceptions, and statutory wording matter, check the current law for the specific application and lease date.
Keep the application receipt, screening authorization, and any notice explaining whether the fee is refundable. A screening charge is not the same payment as a deposit or rent.
First rent and prorated rent
First rent is rent, not a fee. Confirm the due date in the lease and ask whether the landlord requires a full month at signing, a prorated amount for a mid-month start, or another schedule. The reviewed sources do not establish a standard Chicago move-in-date practice or a common prorated amount. Your written lease controls.
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Security deposit versus move-in fee
These are different legal and financial categories even when a landlord requests both.
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Security deposit
A security deposit is generally intended to secure the tenant’s obligations and is potentially refundable after move-out, subject to lawful deductions. Ask where it will be held, what deductions are allowed, what inspection or notice procedures apply, and when the balance will be returned. Chicago’s Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (CRLTO) contains deposit-interest provisions for covered situations. The applicable rule can depend on the lease, the property, exemptions, and the rate for the year the agreement was entered into; do not assume a current annual rate without verifying it.
Chicago rules can differ from statewide Illinois rules. For a dispute or legal advice, verify the current Chicago Municipal Code and the facts of your tenancy rather than relying on a generic statewide explanation.
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Move-in fee
Illinois Legal Aid Online describes move-in fees as typically non-refundable and not protected in the same way as security deposits. They may be described as covering administrative work, building preparation, elevator reservations, or other turnover costs, but the landlord should state the purpose in writing. A very large fee can be treated as a deposit depending on the circumstances, so the label alone does not settle the legal question.
Ask three direct questions: Is the amount refundable? What specific service or cost does it cover? Is a separate security deposit also required? Do not assume that “move-in” means the charge is temporary or that it replaces a deposit.
Can a landlord ask for both?
The reviewed material does not establish a universal Chicago prohibition on requesting both. A lease may list a deposit and a non-refundable fee as separate items. Have each one identified separately, with its refund terms and due date, before signing.
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Holding deposits before lease signing
A landlord may ask for money to hold an apartment while an application is reviewed or a lease is prepared. Before paying, obtain a signed writing that states:
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- Whether the payment is refundable if the landlord rejects the application.
- Whether it is forfeited if you decide not to sign.
- The deadline for signing the lease.
- When the money will be returned.
- Whether it will be credited toward the security deposit, move-in fee, or first rent.
Illinois Legal Aid Online recommends a written agreement covering these points. A receipt that merely says “holding deposit” without conditions leaves the most important financial question unresolved.
Utilities, parking, storage, internet, and pets
Read every inclusion and exclusion in the lease rather than relying on the listing. The 2026 Chicago Association of REALTORS® lease form has separate fields for utilities included in rent, parking, and storage. Use those fields as a checklist, not as proof that every tenant pays every charge.
| Cost | Questions to put in writing |
|---|---|
| Electricity, gas, water | Which provider bills you? Is the charge metered, allocated, or included? When does your responsibility begin? |
| Internet or cable | Is service mandatory, optional, or bundled? Is equipment included? What is the recurring amount? |
| Parking | Is a space guaranteed, assigned separately, or subject to availability? Is the amount monthly or one-time? |
| Storage | Is a locker included, and can its price change separately from rent? |
| Pets | Is there a one-time fee, recurring charge, deposit, or combination? Where are the rules and amounts stated? |
The sources reviewed do not establish reliable current Chicago averages for pet charges or other optional services. Treat any quoted amount as a term of that property’s agreement, not a market benchmark.
Broker compensation
Ask whether you have signed a tenant-brokerage agreement and whether it makes you responsible for compensation. The 2026 Chicago lease form includes a field for landlord-paid tenant-brokerage compensation, but that field does not determine who owes a fee in every transaction. Request the separate written brokerage agreement and confirm the amount, due date, and circumstances that trigger payment before proceeding.
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What changes in 2026 and 2027?
Lease-rights summary from January 1, 2026
The Illinois Department of Human Rights states that the Summary of Rights for Safer Homes Act requires a tenant-rights summary as the first page of written residential leases, including new and renewed leases, effective January 1, 2026. This is a lease-document requirement, not an additional rental charge. If the summary is missing, ask the landlord or agent to provide the required lease package and verify the current agency guidance.
Fee disclosures reported for January 1, 2027
The reviewed statute and Chicago Association of REALTORS® summary report that HB 3564 takes effect January 1, 2027. The summary says non-optional fees must be clearly disclosed in a rental listing or an accompanying link and on the first page of the lease. It also says the listing or lease must state whether utilities are included. The summary describes actual-cost rules and additional conditions for screening fees above $50 and says existing move-in-fee and security-deposit rules were preserved.
These requirements are date-sensitive. Confirm whether the law applies to your agreement, the current statutory text, and any exceptions. A listing made before the effective date and a lease signed after it may raise different timing questions.
Chicago ordinance and source limitations
The CRLTO governs many Chicago residential rental agreements, subject to its limitations and exemptions. An online code publisher warns that its text may not reflect the latest municipal legislation. For a specific dispute, check the current municipal code or obtain qualified legal help. Do not use an old deposit-interest rate or an outdated fee rule as if it were current.
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Before applying, ask the landlord or agent to complete this list in writing:
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- Advertised monthly rent and the lease term.
- Application or screening charge, including whether it is per applicant and what it covers.
- Holding payment, refund conditions, and whether it becomes a credit.
- First rent and any prorated rent.
- Security deposit, where it is held, deductions, and return process.
- Move-in fee, refundability, stated purpose, and whether it is separate from the deposit.
- Every utility included in rent and every utility billed separately.
- Parking, storage, internet, pet, and other recurring or one-time charges.
- Any tenant-brokerage compensation under a signed brokerage agreement.
- Total cash required before keys and estimated monthly total after move-in.
Save the listing, fee schedule, lease, addenda, receipts, payment confirmations, and move-in condition report. If a charge appears only in a conversation, ask for it to be added to the written agreement before you pay.
Warning signs and ways to reduce disputes
- One unexplained lump sum: request an itemized breakdown separating rent, deposit, fees, and services.
- Unclear refund language: do not pay a holding amount until the written conditions answer when and how it is returned.
- A fee described as both refundable and non-refundable: ask the landlord to correct the lease and receipt so the terms agree.
- Utilities omitted from the lease: obtain written confirmation of who pays each utility and how charges are calculated.
- Pressure to pay before receiving documents: request the proposed lease, fee schedule, and payment instructions first; independently verify the recipient.
- Conflicting versions: keep the final signed lease and ask which document controls if a listing, email, and addendum differ.
If you believe a charge violates a Chicago or Illinois requirement, preserve the documents and seek advice from a qualified tenant-law resource. The legal result can depend on property type, exemptions, dates, and the exact wording of the agreement.
Bottom line for a Chicago move-in budget
Plan for an application or screening charge, first rent, and either a security deposit, a move-in fee, or another arrangement stated by the landlord; then add utilities and services that are not included. Never assume a move-in fee is refundable or that a deposit and fee are interchangeable. Get the total, refundability, utility responsibility, and payment deadlines in writing, and check the date-sensitive 2026 and 2027 disclosure requirements before signing.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are an application fee, move-in fee, and security deposit separate?
They can be separate payments. An application fee covers screening, a security deposit is generally potentially refundable subject to lawful deductions, and a move-in fee is typically non-refundable according to Illinois Legal Aid Online. The lease should list each item and its terms separately.
Is there a standard Chicago move-in fee amount?
The sources reviewed do not establish a reliable citywide amount or cap. Ask the specific landlord for the fee’s purpose, refund terms, and written amount.
What does the $50 screening figure mean?
The Chicago Association of REALTORS® summary of HB 3564 reports additional conditions for application fees above $50, including actual screening cost, advance payment by the landlord, and billing with a receipt within 14 days. The reported effective date is January 1, 2027; verify the current statute and exceptions.
Do Chicago landlords have to pay interest on security deposits?
Chicago’s ordinance contains deposit-interest rules for covered situations, but the applicable rate and exemptions depend on the lease year and circumstances. Verify the current municipal requirement rather than relying on an old rate.
What should I do if a landlord asks for a holding deposit?
Get a written agreement stating whether it is refundable, when it will be returned, whether it is forfeited if you do not sign, and whether it will be credited toward rent or a deposit.
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