A beautiful apartment can hide serious problems—unresponsive landlords, pest infestations, heating issues, or code violations. 5 minutes of research before signing a lease can save you months of headaches. Here's exactly what to check.
Quick Building Research
Search any Chicago address on StreetSmart to see violations, property info, and building scores—all in one place.
Search Any BuildingThe Complete Research Checklist
1. Building Violations
Chicago's Department of Buildings tracks code violations for every property. Look for:
- Recent violations — Anything in the past 12 months is a concern
- Repeat violations — The same issue happening multiple times indicates neglect
- Serious violations — Heating, plumbing, electrical, structural issues
- Open vs closed — Open violations haven't been fixed yet
Red Flags
- • Multiple violations in a short period
- • Violations that were cited but not fixed
- • Heating or electrical violations (safety issues)
- • Building-wide problems (affects all tenants)
2. Property Information
Check the basics about the building:
- When was it built? — Older buildings may have more character but also more maintenance issues
- How many units? — Smaller buildings often mean more responsive landlords
- Who owns it? — Is it an individual, LLC, or large management company?
- Recent sales? — New owners sometimes improve buildings, sometimes neglect them
3. 311 Complaints
Chicago's 311 system tracks complaints from residents. Search for the address to see:
- Heat complaints (especially in winter)
- Pest reports (rodents, roaches, bedbugs)
- Garbage and sanitation issues
- Building maintenance problems
4. Online Reviews
Search for the building address or management company on:
- Google Maps reviews
- Yelp (for management companies)
- Apartment rating sites
- Reddit (r/chicago, neighborhood subreddits)
5. RLTO Disclosures
Under the RLTO, landlords must disclose certain information before you sign a lease. Ask for:
- Any pending code violations from the past 12 months
- Name and address of the owner or authorized agent
- RLTO summary document
Learn more about required RLTO disclosures →
In-Person Research
Some things you can only learn by visiting:
On-Site Checklist
- Check common areas
Are hallways clean? Is the lobby maintained? Check mailboxes.
- Look for maintenance issues
Water stains, peeling paint, broken fixtures, worn carpet.
- Check laundry room
Are machines working? Clean? Posted "out of order" signs?
- Talk to current tenants
If you see someone in the hallway, ask about the building.
- Visit at different times
Day vs night, weekday vs weekend. Different vibes.
Researching the Landlord
The landlord matters as much as the building. Look for:
- How quickly do they respond? — Are they easy to reach during your viewing?
- Do they own other buildings? — What's the condition of those?
- Management company reputation — Google the company name + "reviews"
- Legal history — Any lawsuits from tenants? (courthouse records)
Questions to Ask
During your viewing, ask:
- Who handles maintenance requests? How quickly are they typically resolved?
- What's included in rent? (heat, water, garbage, parking?)
- Are there any ongoing building issues I should know about?
- When was the last time the apartment was painted/renovated?
- What type of heating system? Who pays for heat?
- Has this unit ever had pest issues?
Complete list of questions to ask →
When to Walk Away
Deal Breakers
- ✗Multiple open violations, especially heating or safety-related
- ✗Landlord refuses to provide RLTO disclosures
- ✗Pattern of 311 heat complaints during winter
- ✗Signs of pest infestation during viewing
- ✗Landlord is evasive about building ownership or contact info
- ✗Multiple negative reviews mentioning same issues
Research Resources
- StreetSmart — Search any Chicago building for violations, info, and scores
- Chicago Dept. of Buildings — Official violation records
- Chicago 311 — Complaint history
- Cook County Assessor — Property ownership records