Residential vs. Commercial/Industrial Leases

Laws governing commercial and industrial leases treat landlords and tenants as business equals. Both parties are considered capable of freely negotiating their respective rights and obligations, and are responsible for protecting themselves from unfair business practices.

In the eyes of the law, the landlord and tenant have read, understood and agreed to every word contained in a signed lease, which is viewed simply as a contract. For this reason, and unlike residential tenants, commercial tenants are provided few special protections from landlords.

The rights, responsibilities and obligations outlined in the Chicago Residential-Landlord Tenant Ordinance do not apply to tenants with commercial or industrial leases -- even if they live on the premises. For more information about the Ordinance, review Chapter 6: Residential Leases.