Chicago apartment management companies manage thousands of units in the city’s diverse neighborhoods, including those in its most coveted markets such as Bronzeville/Hyde Park/South Shore and The Loop. These property owners focus on customer service and renovations that are environmentally friendly. They use tankless hot water heaters and Energy Star appliances, for example, as well as LED lighting and solar panels. They also have a recycling program and encourage tenants to take part in community activities. Group Fox Management, for instance, has been in business since 1978 and has a strong reputation as a landlord that prioritizes customer service and renovates apartments with sustainable features such as high-efficiency windows.
The demand for apartments in urban neighborhoods is a draw for college graduates and young professionals from across the country. The demand is also evident in suburbia, where older buildings are being renovated to accommodate today’s work-from-home lifestyles, and where upscale apartments with smart home technology are drawing retirees. These new buildings are often located near downtowns and train stations, allowing residents to walk to shopping and dining options or easily commute to Chicago for employment.
Despite the strong demand, some landlords are struggling to keep up with maintenance requests and are relying on expensive technology to improve their properties. One such company is RealPage, which provides software that encourages managers to boost rents and reduce vacancies by comparing unit data with similar units in the area. During a recent earnings call, RealPage CEO Jeff Winn said that many large-scale property companies found they could make money by raising prices instead of lowering rents to fill vacant units.
For some, this approach is not working. Kamiah Dabney, for instance, moved out of her Camden Townhouse in 2020 after 312 bought the building. She says she waited months for 312 to fix code violations, and when they did, the work was subpar. Her kitchen had rusty pipes, and her ceiling was falling in during storms. There were roaches and paint chunks on the floorboards.
Jamerson, like other tenants, wants the city to hold landlords accountable for addressing building issues. She supports two pieces of legislation, the first of which would require a landlord to evict a tenant only for nonpayment or for creating a nuisance. The second would require the city to inspect all Chicago buildings, with more frequency in those that have been cited for health code violations.
Chicago apartment Chicago property managers is a vital component of the city’s housing supply and needs to be handled carefully by both city officials and private companies. As a result, it’s important for Chicago residents to stay engaged and be informed. To learn more about how to be a responsible renter, attend a Virtual Town Hall discussion on October 5 hosted by Illinois Answers on Chicago’s building safety record. The event will be recorded and archived on the Illinois Answers website.