Illinois Tenant Rights
& Rental Laws

Illinois does not have a statutory limit on security deposits.

Illinois landlords must return security deposits within 45 days after you move out (for a full refund; to keep part for damage, an itemized statement with receipts is due within 30 days).

No Illinois statute sets how much notice a landlord must give before entering, so your lease's entry terms apply.

Late fees in Illinois: No statutory cap statewide. No statewide grace period. In a mobile home park, no late fee until rent is more than 5 days late..

No notice statute; no caps. No Illinois statute sets how much notice a landlord must give before raising rent. A landlord can end a tenancy of less than a year (other than week to week) with 30 days' written notice (735 ILCS 5/9-207(b)). No statewide cap, and local governments may not control rent (50 ILCS 825/10). Source: No Statute.

14 days; repair-and-deduct up to the lesser of $500 or half a month's rent. Send written notice by certified or registered mail that you plan to have the repair made at the landlord's expense (765 ILCS 742/5). If not repaired within 14 days, or sooner in an emergency, you may hire a licensed, insured tradesperson and deduct the paid bill (765 ILCS 742/5, 742/15). The repair must cost no more than $500 or half a month's rent, whichever is less (765 ILCS 742/5). Does not apply to public housing, condos, co-ops, or owner-occupied buildings with 6 or fewer units (765 ILCS 742/10). If a landlord who agreed to pay water, gas or electric fails to pay, you may pay it and deduct it from rent, or end the lease (765 ILCS 735/1). Source: 765 ILCS 742/5.

1-year rebuttable presumption. A landlord may not knowingly end your tenancy, raise rent, cut services, sue or threaten to sue for possession, or refuse to renew because you in good faith complained of code violations, asked for repairs, joined a tenants' union, testified about the home, or used a legal right (765 ILCS 721/5). If you did any of these within one year before the landlord's act, the law presumes retaliation unless the landlord rebuts it; there is no presumption if your protected activity came after the act (765 ILCS 721/20). It is not retaliation if the landlord shows a legitimate non-retaliatory reason or began the action before your complaint (765 ILCS 721/15). You have a defense to the landlord's action and may sue to end the lease with your deposit and prepaid rent returned, to get possession back, and to recover up to 2 months' rent or 2 times your damages (whichever is greater) plus attorney's fees (765 ILCS 721/10). Source: 765 ILCS 721.

Not liable for rent after leaving. Under the Safe Homes Act, a tenant who leaves because of a credible imminent threat of domestic or sexual violence at the home, or after sexual violence there, is not liable for rent after leaving. Give written notice before or within 3 days of moving out (sexual violence: the date, within 60 days, and medical, court or police evidence or a victim services statement). Rent before you leave and give notice is still owed; public housing is excluded except Housing Choice Vouchers. The tenants together can require the landlord to change the locks, or allow it, within 48 hours (765 ILCS 750/20). Source: 765 ILCS 750/15.

Self-help illegal. Illinois requires the court eviction process: no one may enter a home except where the law allows, and then never by force (735 ILCS 5/9-101). A landlord may not cause or request that utility service be cut off in an occupied building, by not paying a utility bill the landlord is responsible for or by tampering with equipment or lines (765 ILCS 735/1.4); you are owed a 100% rent abatement for each month the service is off plus consequential damages (765 ILCS 735/2.1). In Chicago, changing locks, blocking an entrance, removing doors or windows, cutting services or removing your belongings to push you out is unlawful, with a fine of $200 to $500 a day and not more than two months' rent or twice your actual damages, whichever is greater (Chicago RLTO 5-12-160). Source: 735 ILCS 5/9-101.

Illinois tenants have rights including security deposit protections, notice requirements for landlord entry, habitability standards, and protections against retaliation. Use Honestkey to analyze your specific lease against Illinois law.