Advice: Chicago tenant unsure about renewing lease

[Gillian C.]

Hi all,

New Chicago landlord here. In Chicago I understand that we must give 60 days notice prior to a rental price increase or termination/non-renewal of a tenant's lease. However, looking for some advice on communicating with a tenant who has not decided if they want to stay. Here's the deal:

- Notified tenant exactly 60 days before their lease was up that rents would be going up $100 from $1350 to $1450, and parking would be going from $75 to $100.

- Followed up several times. Asked for a final decision by last Saturday, which was ~2 weeks after initial notificaiton. Tenant communicated that they had not made a decision.

- Informed tenant that unit would be listed (Sunday and Monday).

- Listed unit at $1575 (Tuesday)

- Within several hours, received a request for a showing next Saturday. Told the tenant that we would cancel if they let us know that they wanted to stay (though after the immediate request for showing... feeling pangs of greed, risk/reward...)

- Tenant responded that they are "inclined to renew" but want to look at other options. Also said they understand that we need to show the apartment without an answer from them.

Any advice on how I navigate this? If the showing on Saturday goes well with one or more applicants, they apply and have good credit etc and are willing to sign at the higher price, do we take it and tell current tenants they lost their chance? All thoughts welcome re: strategy, tactfulness, and legality of communications. Thank you.

[Mark Ainley]

@Gillian C. After Saturday's showings whether the tenant is interested or not tell the tenant they are singing a lease and you will need to have them out of there by ____ allowing you a couple of days to turn over the unit. Don't say anything about renewing just tell them you have a new tenant and they need to move and see how they react.