Chicago Rental Property Management for Investors Who Think Like Owners
Multifamily, single-family portfolios, and new construction. Maintenance-Only and Full-Service tiers. Built for investors who measure results in NOI, not just occupancy.
We manage rental properties the way an owner would
There is a concept that Dan Martell writes about in Buy Back Your Time: the highest-leverage thing a business owner can do is delegate the work that consumes their hours but doesn't require their expertise. For rental property investors, that work is property management — maintenance calls at 11pm, lease renewals, vendor disputes, compliance paperwork. None of it requires your judgment. All of it steals your time.
Altus was founded by an investor. Kevin Dugan built this company because he experienced firsthand what bad property management does to a portfolio — deferred maintenance that compounds into capital calls, tenant turnover that destroys cash flow, reporting that obscures the real numbers. He built Altus to be the firm he wished existed when he was a landlord himself.
That origin shapes everything about how we operate. We don't just fill vacancies and collect rent. We think about your net operating income, your cost-per-unit, your five-year capital plan. We measure our success by your returns — not by how many doors we manage.
Delegate to experts so you can focus on what you do best. We handle the operations. You keep the upside.
The investors we work with
Multifamily Owners (5–100+ units)
You bought for cash flow and appreciation. You need a manager who protects both — not one who treats your building like a maintenance queue.
Single-Family Portfolio Owners
You own 3–20 scattered-site rentals. You need consistent systems across properties, not a different process for every house.
Family Offices & Legacy Holders
Multi-generational portfolios that need institutional-grade reporting, estate-friendly structures, and a manager who understands long-term holds.
Developers Transitioning to Operations
You built it. Now you need someone to lease it, stabilize it, and operate it — without losing the quality you put into construction.
Two ways to work with Altus
Maintenance-Only
Self-managing landlords who handle leasing and rent but need professional maintenance coordination. 24/7 tenant calls, work orders, vendor management, emergency response.
Learn about Maintenance-OnlyFull-Service Management
Hands-off rental property management. Everything in Maintenance-Only plus leasing, rent collection, accounting, compliance, eviction coordination, and annual reporting.
Learn about Full-ServiceWho we work best with — and who we don't
Best fit:
Investors who treat rental property as a business. Owners who want transparency, data-driven decisions, and a manager who thinks about NOI — not just filling vacancies. Portfolios of 5+ units where professional management math works.
Not a fit:
Single-unit accidental landlords (we refer these to specialist firms), owners looking strictly for the lowest management fee regardless of service quality, properties with unresolved code violations or habitability issues.
The properties we manage
Multifamily (5–100+ units)
Our core competency. Courtyard buildings, mid-rises, mixed-use.
Single-Family Portfolios
Scattered-site SFR portfolios with consistent systems.
Vintage Buildings
Pre-1990 Chicago buildings with deferred maintenance complexity.
New Construction / Lease-Up
Developer handoff, initial leasing, stabilization.
Backed by a real maintenance operation
Most management companies subcontract every repair to outside vendors at marked-up prices. Altus operates differently. Our sister company, My Handyman Chicago, gives every property direct access to vetted, in-house maintenance — faster response times, zero markup, and quality we control.
How our maintenance network worksCurrently with another management company?
Most owners we work with came from another manager. We have a defined transition process that protects your tenants, your cash flow, and your sanity. Our switching guide walks through every step — timeline, document checklist, common pitfalls, and what to look for in your next manager.
Read our switching guideIn a crisis? We have a fast-track onboarding process.
Eviction spiraling? Tenant stopped paying? Property in disrepair and you don't know where to start? Our Landlord Rescue program is designed for owners who need immediate professional intervention — not a 30-day onboarding timeline.
Learn about Landlord RescueResources for rental property owners
Let's talk about your investment property
Tell us about your portfolio — property type, unit count, current management situation — and we'll prepare a custom proposal. No sales pressure.