So landlords turned to “move-in fees,” which are not subject to this regulation. Not only do they not have to pay interest on the deposit, they can keep the fee in its entirety.

Some municipalities are pushing back. Evanston prohibits move-in fees unless clearly tied to specific services, and Cook County’s landlord-tenant ordinance adopted a similar framework in 2021.

2. Move-In Mistake: Failing the Checklist Inspection It doesn't matter how thoroughly you cleaned up, repaired, and renovated the property since the last tenant moved out -- nothing is ever perfect.