By: Kattie Muniz

As Illinois residents embark on peak moving season, renters across the state’s largest metro areas are having to figure out one of the most competitive housing markets in the country. Recently ranked as the second-most competitive rental market nationwide, Chicago reflects a growing trend: prospective tenants often apply to multiple properties before securing a lease while paying application fees each time. 

A new Illinois law is designed to ease that burden. 

Signed by Governor J.B. Pritzker on August 9, 2024, House Bill 4926 (Public Act 103-0840) went into effect on January 1, 2025. The legislation allows tenants to submit reusable screening reports to landlords for up to 30 days, eliminating the need to pay repeated application fees, provided the report meets specific requirements. 

“For renters, the change represents a meaningful shift in both cost and access,” states Derek Exley, founder and president of Reusable Tenant Screening Reports powered by TransUnion™ data. “We designed our platform to specifically help renters leverage the benefits of this legislation.”

A More Cost-Efficient Application Process

Applying for an apartment in Chicago has traditionally come with a price. Between credit checks, background screenings, and administrative costs, renters can spend several hundred dollars in just a few weeks, and that’s before even signing a lease or securing the keys to the property. 

The new legislation directly addresses this issue. If a tenant submits a state-compliant reusable tenant screening report, also known as an RTSR, landlords are no longer permitted to charge additional screening fees. 

Representative Anna Moeller, who introduced the bill, and Senator Sara Feigenholtz, who guided it through the Senate, positioned the measure as a response to the financial strain many renters face in competitive markets. 

The Reality of Renting in Chicago

When trying to find a rental unit, it’s customary to submit multiple applications because of the low-inventory market. High demand and tight timelines mean that renters rarely secure the first unit they apply for. In fact, recent data shows that renters apply to nine places on average before securing a rental. Renters may even apply for houses or apartment units sight-unseen because they’re desperate to find a home in an area they want to live in. 

That process, until now, came at a cost. 

“Most renters are applying to several properties before they get approved,” says Exley. “Those fees add up quickly, especially in a market like Chicago.”

Before 2025, renters had to pay ‌application fees each time they applied, money they often didn’t see back, whether they got the unit or not. With the new law in place and a platform to generate RTSRs, renters can now pay once and reuse their tenant screening report across multiple applications for 30 days, which not only helps them financially but also saves them a great deal of time.

From Policy to Practical Impact

While legislation establishes the framework, its real impact depends on how it is implemented. Reusable tenant screening reports must meet specific criteria, including compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), ensuring accuracy and transparency. 

Exley himself went through the rental process in 2025, seeing firsthand the need for a reusable tenant screening report but not finding a platform that offered one. He sought to solve this issue and developed a platform that aligned with the specific criteria and compliance requirements necessary to create a valid, reusable tenant screening report. 

Today, Exley offers tenants a streamlined way to generate and share compliant reports easily.

“This law gives renters leverage and choices,” he explains. “Instead of starting from scratch every time, they can come prepared with a verified and valid report that landlords can trust and apply to more places because the screening fees will be waived.”

For landlords and property managers, this also introduces efficiencies, thereby reducing redundant screenings while maintaining consistent standards. A landlord or property manager can evaluate and assess a prospective tenant before even showing the rental, saving themselves time in securing a tenant for their property.

Financial Relief When It Matters Most

The timing of the law is especially important. As Chicago’s rental market heats up (along with the weather), the ability to apply broadly without incurring repeated fees offers immediate financial relief. 

A single reusable report can effectively eliminate application screening costs for 30 days. For renters navigating multiple listings, that can translate into significant savings and more choices. Renters are no longer having to balance budget concerns with application screening fees. 

“It’s not just about convenience; it’s about having more options that don’t cost more money,” Exley adds. “Renters shouldn’t have to pay over and over just to prove they qualify, and instead are now able to put their hard-earned money towards other moving costs such as a moving truck, boxes, or a security deposit.”

Early Impact and What the Data Shows

While Illinois’ reusable tenant screening report law is just entering its second year, broader data on reusable screening models already point to clear economic benefits. The traditional rental process has often forced applicants to pay for multiple background checks, creating what industry experts describe as a “financial burden” that can add up to hundreds of dollars before a lease is even signed.

Reusable Tenant Screening Reports powered by TransUnion™ data directly addresses that inefficiency. By allowing renters to complete one verified state-compliant background check and share it across multiple applications, the process becomes both more cost-effective and significantly faster. The reusable tenant screening report law now removes the financial burden of applying to multiple places, giving renters more options in their housing search.

In practice, this reduces “screening fatigue” and prevents applicants from abandoning their search due to repeated fees and settling for the first place they are accepted, an issue that has historically slowed leasing activity in high-demand markets like Chicago and limited renter options. 

A Shift Toward Tenant-Centered Policy

Illinois’ adoption of reusable tenant screening reports reflects a broader movement toward reducing friction in the rental process. By eliminating unnecessary costs and encouraging transparency, the law aims to create a more balanced system for both tenants and landlords. 

In a city where competition remains high, even small policy changes can have a meaningful impact. For Chicago renters, this one could make the difference between stretching their budget and settling versus finally securing a place they really want to call home while saving time and money in the process.