Under Illinois law, if a written or oral rental agreement exists, or if payment is accepted as rent, landlords and tenants have automatic rights and responsibilities under 765 ILCS 705-750, such as the right to timely rent payments and a livable dwelling.Note: These rights cannot be waived regardless of what the rental agreement says.
Illinois has only a few explicit requirements for legal habitability, unlike most states. In general, landlords have a responsibility to make sure that units are “habitable and fit for living.” This usually means, at minimum, that rental property should not have any major violations of applicable housing codes. In most cases, landlords must make requested repairs within 14 days. If they do not, then tenants may choose to repair and deduct from the rent, or report code violations to authorities for further action. Read more
Landlords are required to make necessary repairs in a timely manner. In Illinois, repairs must be made within 14 days after getting written notice from tenants. If repairs aren’t made in a timely manner, Illinois tenants can make repairs and deduct from the rent, or sue the landlord for habitability violations. Read more
The most common reasons that Illinois landlords pursue eviction include:
Landlords are not permitted to evict tenants in retaliation or for discriminatory reasons.
Many Illinois properties are federally entitled to a minimum 30 days of advance notice before a landlord can file for eviction. This minimum applies to evictions for nonpayment of rent or fees, when a residential property was covered by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
It’s illegal for Illinois landlords to retaliate by evicting or refusing lease renewal of tenants who have taken a protected action like reporting a landlord to government authorities for health and safety violations.
Collections and Holdings: The following laws apply to the collection and holding of security deposits:
Local Laws: Cities and towns can enact their own rules. For example, some of these rules are different in Chicago.
Returns and Deductions: The following laws apply to the return of security deposits:
Notice Requirements: If a tenant wishes to break a lease, they must give the following amount of notice:
| Rent Payment Frequency | Notice Needed |
|---|---|
| Week-to-Week | 7 Days |
| Month-to-Month | 30 Days |
| Quarter-to-Quarter | No statute |
| Year-to-Year | 60 Days |
Early Termination: Illinois tenants may legally break a lease early for the following reasons:
If an Illinois tenant breaks their lease early, they are still liable for the rent for the remaining lease period. Landlords are legally required to make a reasonable effort to re-rent the unit, and if they find a new tenant, the original tenant is then no longer liable to pay all remaining rent.
Landlords cannot keep the full security deposit because a tenant broke their lease. The landlord can make deductions for damages or unpaid rent, but the rest must be returned to the tenant.
Illinois does not have rent control and state law prohibits cities and towns from creating their own rent control laws.
Because Illinois does not have rent control, landlords can raise the rent by any amount, as often as they choose, as long as they avoid discrimination and do not increase the rent during the lease term.
Illinois state law does not specify how much notice landlords must give before raising the rent. Landlords and tenants can agree on a minimum notice period for a rent increase in the lease agreement.
Protected Groups: The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability. These rules do not apply to some owner-occupied homes or homes operated by religious organizations. Illinois has extra provisions to protect individuals on the basis of their age, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, [3] marital status, military status, domestic violence history, or pregnancy.
Discriminatory Acts and Penalties: Actions that may be considered discriminatory in Illinois:
If landlords are found guilty of violating the Fair Housing Act or the Illinois Human Rights Act, they can be held liable to up to $21,039 or $16,000 respectively for their first violation.
In addition to having laws that address general issues like repairs and security deposits, most states, including Illinois, grant rights and responsibilities about things like lock changes and a landlord’s right to entry. See the topics below for more information.
Illinois doesn’t have a statewide law describing a landlord’s access rights on rented property, although many cities (like Chicago) have ordinances that specifically lay out rules like required advance notice. In general, the landlord can only enter for purposes reasonably related to the lease, at reasonable times, with reasonable advance notice.
The following laws apply to the collection of rent and related fees:
Most disputes between landlords and tenants are handled in Small Claims Court, which is an informal process designed to be quicker and simpler than higher courts. For example, disputes regarding the return of security deposits are typically handled in Small Claims Court.
Landlords and tenants can file cases in Small Claims Court to settle minor disputes without hiring an attorney if the amount claimed is less than $10,000. Illinois Small Claims Court is a division of Circuit Court.
Landlords are required to give the following mandatory disclosures before executing a lease:
In counties with over 3 million people, Illinois landlords must change the locks after the conclusion of a lease. Landlords must also change locks when requested by a victim of domestic violence or sexual abuse. Landlords are prohibited from changing the locks as a form of “self help” eviction.
As of 2024, Illinois tenants now have a right to access an electric vehicle charging station on the premises. If one does not exist, the tenant may pay to install one, either personally or in coordination with the landlord. [4]
Many cities in Illinois have their own landlord-tenant laws in addition to the state requirements. Check your local county and municipality for additional landlord tenant regulations.
Chicago has many specialized laws relating to housing. You can find a summary of these different rules and regulations here on the City of Chicago’s website.
The City of Aurora includes a requirement that all landlords operating within the city limits include an addendum in their leases that requires disclosure of information relating to other local ordinances that regulate noise abatement and property maintenance. To read more about Aurora-specific policies, click here.
The City of Naperville has extra legislation protecting tenants against discrimination based on military status and legal source of income, in addition to all other state protections. More information on these policies can be read here.
…a lessor of residential real property who has received a security deposit from a lessee to secure the payment of rent or to compensate for damage to the leased premises may not withhold any part of that deposit as reimbursement for property damage unless the lessor has, within 30 days of the date that the lessee vacated the leased premises or within 30 days of the date the lessee’s right of possession ends, whichever is later, furnished to the lessee, by personal delivery, by postmarked mail directed to his or her last known address, or by electronic mail to a verified electronic mail address provided by the lessee, an itemized statement of the damage allegedly caused to the leased premises and the estimated or actual cost for repairing or replacing each item on that statement, attaching the paid receipts, or copies thereof, for the repair or replacement. If the lessor utilizes his or her own labor to repair or replace any damage or damaged items caused by the lessee, the lessor may include the reasonable cost of his or her labor to repair or replace such damage or damaged items. If estimated cost is given, the lessor shall furnish to the lessee, delivered in person or by postmarked mail directed to the last known address of the lessee or another address provided by the lessee, paid receipts, or copies thereof, within 30 days from the date the statement showing estimated cost was furnished to the lessee, as required by this Section. If a written lease specifies the cost for cleaning, repair, or replacement of any component of the leased premises or any component of the building or common areas that, if damaged, will not be replaced, the lessor may withhold the dollar amount specified in the lease. Costs specified in a written lease shall be for damage beyond normal wear and tear and reasonable to restore the leased premises to the same condition as at the time the lease began. The itemized statement shall reference the dollar amount specified in the written lease associated with the specific building component or amenity and include a copy of the applicable portion of the lease. Deductions for costs or values not specified in the lease shall otherwise comply with the requirements of this Section. If no such statement and receipts, or copies thereof, are furnished to the lessee as required by this Section, the lessor shall return the security deposit in full within 45 days of the date that the lessee vacated the premises, delivered in person or by postmarked mail directed to the last known address of the lessee or another address provided by the lessee. If the lessee fails to provide the lessor with a mailing address or electronic mail address, the lessor shall not be held liable for any damages or penalties as a result of the lessee’s failure to provide an address.
(a) As used in this Section, “electronic funds transfer” means a transfer of funds, other than a transaction originated by check, draft, or similar paper instrument, that is initiated through an electronic terminal, telephone, computer, or magnetic tape for the purpose of ordering, instructing, or authorizing a financial institution to debit or credit a consumer’s account, including, but not limited to, through the use of an automated clearing house system. (b) A landlord shall not require a tenant or prospective tenant to remit any amount due to the landlord under a residential lease, renewal, or extension agreement by means of an electronic funds transfer, including, but not limited to, an electronic funds transfer system that automatically transfers funds on a regular, periodic, and recurring basis. (c) Beginning 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly, a landlord who violates this Section is guilty of an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. (d) This Section applies to leases or agreements executed after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly.
It is a civil rights violation for an owner or any other person , or for a real estate broker or salesman, because of unlawful discrimination, familial status, immigration status, source of income, or an arrest record, as defined under subsection (B-5) of Section 1-103, to:
(A) Transactions. Refuse to engage in a real estate transaction with a person or to discriminate in making available such a transaction; (B) Terms. Alter the terms, conditions or privileges of a real estate transaction or in the furnishing of facilities or services in connection therewith; (C) Offers. Refuse to receive or to fail to transmit a bona fide offer in a real estate transaction from a person; (D) Negotiation. Refuse to negotiate a real estate transaction with a person; (E) Representations. Represent to a person that real property is not available for inspection, sale, rental, or lease when in fact it is so available, or to fail to bring a property listing to the person’s attention, or to refuse to permit the person to inspect real property; (F) Publication of Intent. Make, print, circulate, post, mail, publish or cause to be made, printed, circulated, posted, mailed, or published any notice, statement, advertisement or sign, or use a form of application for a real estate transaction, or make a record or inquiry in connection with a prospective real estate transaction, that indicates any preference, limitation, or discrimination based on unlawful discrimination or unlawful discrimination based on familial status, immigration status, source of income, or an arrest record, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination; (G) Listings. Offer, solicit, accept, use or retain a listing of real property with knowledge that unlawful discrimination or discrimination on the basis of familial status, immigration status, source of income, or an arrest record in a real estate transaction is intended.
(a) Notwithstanding any provision in the lease to the contrary and subject to subsection (b):
(1) a tenant may install, at the tenant’s expense for the tenant’s own use, a level 1 receptacle or outlet, a level 2 receptacle or outlet, or a level 2 electric vehicle charging system on or in the leased premises; (2) a landlord shall not assess or charge a tenant any fee for the placement or use of an electric vehicle charging system, except that:
(A) the landlord may:
(i) require reimbursement for the actual cost of electricity provided by the landlord that was used by the electric vehicle charging system; (ii) charge a reasonable fee for access. If the electric vehicle charging system is part of a network for which a network fee is charged, the landlord’s reimbursement may include the amount of the network fee. Nothing in this subparagraph requires a landlord to impose upon a tenant a fee or charge other than the rental payments specified in the lease; or (iii) charge a security deposit to cover costs to restore the property to its original condition if the tenant removes the electric vehicle charging system. (B) the landlord may require reimbursement for the cost of the installation of the electric vehicle charging system, including any additions or upgrades to existing wiring directly attributable to the requirements of the electric vehicle charging system, if the landlord places or causes the electric vehicle charging system to be placed at the request of the tenant; and (C) if the tenant desires to place an electric vehicle charging system in an area accessible to other tenants, the landlord may assess or charge the tenant a reasonable fee to reserve a specific parking space in which to install the electric vehicle charging system.
(a) At the time of a prospective tenant’s application to lease a dwelling unit, before a lease is entered into, or at any time during the leasing period, upon request, the lessor shall provide the prospective tenant or tenant of a dwelling unit with:
(1) the Illinois Emergency Management Agency pamphlet entitled “Radon Guide for Tenants” or an equivalent pamphlet approved for use by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency; (2) copies of any records or reports pertaining to radon concentrations within the dwelling unit that indicate a radon hazard to the tenant, as provided in subsection (c); and (3) the Disclosure of Information on Radon Hazards to Tenants form, as set forth in subsection (f). (b) At the commencement of the agreed leasing period, a tenant shall have 90 days to conduct his or her own radon test of the dwelling unit. If the tenant chooses to have a radon test performed, the tenant shall provide the lessor with copies of the results, including any records or reports pertaining to radon concentrations, within 10 days after receiving the results of the radon test. If the tenant’s radon test provides a result in excess of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency’s recommended Radon Action Level and the lessor has elected to not mitigated the radon hazard, the tenant may terminate the lease.
Can a Tenant Change the Locks in Illinois? Illinois tenants can change their locks if local laws or the rental agreement don't say otherwise. Tenants can also require a lock change (at their own expense) from the landlord if they are victims of domestic violence or sexual abuse. Read more » What Are a Tenant’s Rights in Illinois? Illinois tenant rights include the right to seek housing without discrimination, and the right to habitable rental property. If a landlord violates these rights, the tenant usually also has a right to legal action. Sometimes the tenant can also personally correct issues, for example, by doing minor repairs and deducting the cost from the rent. Read more » Is Illinois a “Landlord Friendly” State? Illinois is not considered a very landlord-friendly state as many cities and counties have fairly strict rules on what landlords can do. Tenants tend to have more leverage than average in Illinois. Read more » Can a Landlord Enter Without Permission in Illinois? Illinois landlords can, by default, enter without permission for purposes reasonably related to the lease. This may differ depending on local laws or the terms of the rental agreement. For example, in Chicago all landlord entries require consent execept inspections and emergencies. Read more »
