Zillow: One-bed coach house to rent, Portage Park, Chicago
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Zillow: One-bed coach house to rent · Portage Park, Chicago · US$1,400 a month
To Rent: One-bed coach house, Portage Park, Chicago
This is a furnished one-bedroom coach house apartment in Portage Park with in-unit laundry and water and trash included, but tenants pay their own electric and gas and cooling is via window unit rather than confirmed central air. Clarify the refundability of the $300 move-in fee, the lease term, and the exact pet and parking terms before signing.
Pros
- Rent includes water and trash service, reducing the tenant's utility burden.
- In-unit stacked washer and dryer, a genuine convenience not always available in Chicago apartments.
- Furnished, which can save on moving costs for a tenant without existing furniture.
- Off-street parking plus plentiful permit-free street parking nearby, per the description.
- Recent updates disclosed: a 2020 boiler and 2015 kitchen and bathroom renovation, per the listing.
- Private entrance, notable for a coach house style unit.
- Described as walkable to Metra and Blue Line service, plus grocery stores and several restaurants, per the listing.
Cons
- Cooling is provided only by a window air conditioner rather than central air, despite a general facts field suggesting central air is available, so effective cooling may be more limited than expected.
- Tenant is responsible for electric and gas, which adds to the effective monthly cost beyond the listed rent.
- A $300 move-in fee is required in place of a security deposit, an upfront cost whose refundability isn't specified.
- Pets are only approved case-by-case with a separate $200 deposit, so pet owners have no guarantee of approval before applying.
Rent and what it gets you
This is a one bedroom, one bathroom coach house apartment in Chicago's Portage Park neighborhood, listed at $1,400 a month furnished, with in-unit stacked laundry. It has only been on the market for two days, so there's no signal yet of it being slow to rent or overpriced; you'll need to judge the rent against comparable current listings in the area yourself.
Costs beyond the headline rent
The listing states the owner covers water and trash, and the tenant pays electric and gas. There's no traditional security deposit, but a $300 move-in fee is required instead, which functions similarly in that it's an upfront cost, though it's worth clarifying whether it's refundable like a deposit or a non-refundable fee. If you have a pet, there's a separate $200 pet deposit, and pets are approved case by case rather than guaranteed. The listing doesn't mention renter's insurance, but most landlords require it, so get a quote and confirm whether it's mandatory here.
Property and features
The apartment is furnished, which simplifies a move if you don't have your own furniture but is worth checking for condition and whether it suits your needs. Cooling is a window air conditioner rather than central air, despite the general facts field mentioning central air and central heating, which is worth clarifying since a window unit is a meaningfully different (and often less effective) cooling setup than central air. The description states a new boiler was installed in 2020 and the kitchen and bathroom were updated in 2015, both of which suggest the unit has had some recent attention, though these are the seller's claims to verify at viewing. A private entrance is a genuine plus for a coach house style unit.
Parking and practicalities
Off-street parking is listed, and the description adds that street parking is plentiful and doesn't require a permit, which is a real convenience in many dense Chicago neighborhoods. Confirm whether the off-street parking comes with the unit at no extra cost or carries a separate fee.
Local amenities and character
Portage Park is a well-known Chicago neighborhood, and the description places the unit near the 40-acre Portage Park itself, with walkable access to Metra service at Mayfair or Irving Park and the Blue Line at Montrose or Irving Park, plus grocery stores and several restaurants. Easy access to the 90/94 expressway is also mentioned. These are the seller's claims about walkability and access, worth confirming in person, but Portage Park is genuinely known as a residential, family-friendly area with good park space.
What the description reveals
The description is fairly detailed and specific about dates (boiler, kitchen and bath updates) and nearby amenities, which is reassuring in terms of transparency. It doesn't mention whether the furnished items are negotiable, whether there's a lease term or minimum length required, or details on the pet policy beyond the deposit amount.
💬 Ask the agent
- Is the $300 move-in fee refundable at the end of the lease, similar to a deposit, or is it a non-refundable charge?
- What is the lease term being offered, and is there any early termination or break clause?
- Is central air conditioning available, or is cooling limited to the window unit mentioned in the description?
- Is there an additional monthly fee for the off-street parking, or is it included in the rent?
- What are the specific pet policy terms beyond the deposit, such as breed or size restrictions or monthly pet rent?
- Is renter's insurance required as a condition of the lease?
- Can the furnished items be removed or swapped if I have my own furniture?
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