Did you know 60% of moves in the United States take places between May and September? Now's the time to get ready for the busy moving season! Here are some general tips and tricks to help you through it:

Set your budget. You’ll want to make sure your unit is rent-ready and in excellent shape. It’s important to have funds set aside to help make any repairs or maintenance such as painting or updating appliances. You may also want to consider hiring a cleaning service.

Make sure to provide proper notice for your current tenants. If you’re not renewing the lease, you must give your tenants a certain amount of notice depending on how long they’ve resided in your unit:

• 60 days if the tenant has resided in the unit for more than six (6) months but less than three (3) years.
• 120 days if the tenant has resided in the unit for more than three (3) years.

Once proper notice has been given, establish a move-out date with your tenant.

Conduct a move-out inspection. Make sure to thoroughly evaluate each room in the unit. This will help you assess if any repairs need to be made before your new tenant moves in.

Review your lease. See if any changes or updates are needed before starting a new tenancy.

Finalize your application. The rental application is essential to the tenant screening process! This will help you collect important information such as rental or employment history, references and pet details. The rental application can help with finding a tenant that’s suitable for you.

Marketing. Property marketing is key to making a good impression on prospective tenants! Mention as many property details as possible such as the rental price, property type, total amount of bedrooms and bathrooms, square footage and amenities. It’s also helpful to include neighborhood information as well such as nearby schools and public transportation.

Schedule showings with qualified applicants. Be prepared to answer questions about the unit. If your unit is occupied, make sure you’re giving your tenants proper notice regarding showings so that they have time to clean and secure pets, if applicable.

Sign the lease. After you’ve selected a suitable tenant, schedule a time to sign the lease. This will allow you to talk through the lease terms and conditions. This is also where you’ll want to discuss  preferred communication methods (i.e., phone call, texting, email) throughout the lease term.

This month commemorates the passing of the Fair Housing Act of 1968 that ensures everyone has equal access to housing and protects individuals from discrimination during the sale, rental and financing of housing. The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination based on:

• Race
• Color
• Religion
• Sex
• National Origin
• Familiar Status
• Disability

As a housing provider, you play a pivotal role in progressing fair housing. Check out the resources below to learn more!

Cook County Fair Housing Resource Guide
Illinois Department of Human Rights
Chicago Blueprint for Fair Housing

Program Reminder: RTA Timeline      

Once CHA receives the complete and accurate RTA packet, it takes approximately 36 business days, or 7-8 weeks, to process the move. The RTA cover page features a timeline outlining the seven steps of each process that you can refer to. The key to ensuring your RTA packet is promptly processed is providing complete and accurate information throughout the packet.

Coming Soon: CHA is updating the process for new moves. Effective May 1, 2025, the contract rent determination and rent offer acceptance steps will take place earlier in the process (prior to scheduling the Initial Inspection), as shown below: 

1. Property Owner Screening
2. Rent Determination
3. Rent Offer Acceptance
4. Initial Inspection Scheduling
5. Initial Inspection
6. HAP Contract Execution
7. Housing Assistance Payment

Updated HCV Program materials and additional information about this change will be shared online once final. Make sure to check out CHA's website or log in to your HCV Owner Portal account for more details. 

April is recognized as National Stress Awareness Month to help bring awareness to the negative impact that stress can have on your health. Stress is your body’s natural reaction to a new or challenging situation. These stressors cause your body to produce mental and physical responses, known as stress. 

Long-term stress can lead to health problems and cause both physical and psychological symptoms including headaches, high blood pressure, digestive issues, anxiety and panic attacks. It can even lead to behavioral symptoms such as substance use disorder, smoking and gambling disorder.

Here are some tips for dealing with stress:

Incorporate physical activity into your daily schedule. Even a walk can help refocus your mind and improve your mood. Yoga can also help reduce feelings of stress and promote relaxation.

Practice a healthy diet. Avoid foods that are salt and sugar heavy. Try to eat nutrient rich foods such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains instead.

Prioritize sleep. Most adults need between 7-9 hours of sleep each night. If you’re having trouble sleeping, practice a bedtime routine that can help you feel relaxed. This includes limiting screentime before bed, listening to music, reading and limiting your caffeine intake.

Interested in learning more about how to manage stress? Don't miss our next HCV Webinar on Tuesday, April 22. See the Upcoming Events section for details.

April 22 is Earth Day! This year’s Earth Day theme is our power, our planet, inviting people around the world to make smart energy choices and raise awareness on the importance of renewable energy to build a healthy and sustainable future.

Looking for a way to participate in Earth Day? There are events being held all over the City of Chicago, including:

Earth Day Parks Clean Up
Saturday, April 26 | Chicago Parks
chicagoparkdistrict.com/events/earth-day

Family Fun: Earth Day Science
Monday, April 21 | McKinley Park Branch Library (1915 W. 35th Street)
www.chipublib.org

Earth Day Celebration & Resource Fair
Saturday, April 26 | Build Campus (5100 W. Harrison)
www.buildchicago.org

Managing the Chaos
Tuesday, April 22, 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. | Register Now

Did you know April is Stress Awareness Month? Join us to learn helpful tips and best practices on how to manage chaotic stressors that may be present in your life due to financial strain, caregiving responsibilities, news events, social media influences, misinformation, the unpredictability of the world we live in, etc.

HCV Property Owner Bootcamp @ the FIC
Tuesday, May 29, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. | Register Now

Join us in person to learn the ins and outs of the HCV Program including how to get started, the rent determination process, HQS inspections and HCV Program enforcement.

Property Owner Networking Event @ the Near North Branch Library
Thursday, June 12, Noon to 2 p.m. | Register Now

Join fellow property owners in person to share experiences, discuss best practices and learn from each other. CHA staff will be on hand to help facilitate, but the event is all yours.

Have leasing-related questions, or want to request a 1:1 consultation? The HCV Owner Outreach team is here to help. Email owneroutreach@thecha.org. ¡También ofrecemos estos servicios en español!

In Case You Missed It:

More Affordable Housing On The Way
National Museum Of Public Housing Opens: ‘This Is A Destination’
Construction ‘season’ in Chicago: Projects slated for 2025

We appreciate your continued partnership! If you liked this newsletter, or have topic suggestions for newsletter articles or webinars, reply to this email and let us know.

Looking for past editions of Owner News? Find them on the HCV Owner Portal at chahcvportal.org, under the 'Resources' menu.

Chicago Housing Authority | 60 E. Van Buren Street | Chicago, IL 60605