Illinois Landlord-Tenant Laws

• 30 days after tenant vacates or right of possession ends, whichever is later
• If estimated costs given, must provide paid receipts within 30 days of the itemized statement
• 45 days if no itemized statement and receipts are provided
• Personal delivery, postmarked mail, or verified electronic mail

• Applies to ALL residential rentals regardless of number of units (effective January 1, 2024)
• Must provide itemized statement of damage within 30 days of tenant vacating
• Statement must include estimated or actual cost per item
• Must attach paid receipts or copies for each repair/replacement
• Landlord may include reasonable cost of own labor for repairs
• +7 more requirements

Within 30 days of tenant vacating

• May deduct for unpaid rent
• May deduct for damage beyond normal wear and tear
• May deduct for cleaning costs if beyond normal wear and tear
• If lease specifies costs for specific items (e.g., carpet replacement, professional cleaning), landlord may withhold those specified amounts
• Lease-specified deduction costs must be reasonable to restore premises to move-in condition
• +5 more requirements

Upon sale or transfer of property; 21 days for foreclosure notification

• New owner (transferee) becomes liable for all security deposits and prepaid rent
• Original landlord (transferor) remains jointly and severally liable until deposits are properly transferred
• Includes statutory interest that has not been paid to tenant
• In foreclosure: purchaser who receives actual possession of deposits must post written notice on each dwelling unit within 21 days
• Notice must state the new owner has acquired the tenant's security deposit
• +2 more requirements

Minimum 5-day written notice after rent is due

• Landlord must serve written demand for rent after rent is past due
• Notice must give tenant at least 5 days to pay
• Notice must state that the lease will be terminated if rent is not paid within the specified time
• If tenant pays all rent due within the 5-day period, landlord cannot proceed with eviction
• If tenant does not pay, landlord may file a forcible entry and detainer (eviction) action
• +3 more requirements

5-day unconditional notice — no right to cure

• Applies when tenant uses the property for illegal purposes (drug activity, illegal firearms, etc.)
• Only 5-day notice required
• This is an unconditional notice — tenant has NO right to cure
• Landlord may file eviction action immediately after 5-day period expires
• Covers illegal drug use, manufacture, or distribution on premises
• +2 more requirements

• 7 days' written notice
• 30 days' written notice
• 60 days' written notice

• Week-to-week tenancy: 7 days' written notice to terminate (735 ILCS 5/9-207)
• Month-to-month tenancy: 30 days' written notice to terminate (735 ILCS 5/9-207)
• Year-to-year tenancy: 60 days' written notice before end of term (735 ILCS 5/9-205)
• If tenant holds over after lease expires without landlord consent, landlord can pursue eviction
• Holdover tenant who refuses to vacate after written demand may be liable for double rent (735 ILCS 5/9-202)
• +2 more requirements

Landlord has 14 days to make repairs after written notice (or more promptly for emergencies)

• Illinois does not have a general statutory warranty of habitability at the state level (implied warranty exists in case law)
• Residential Tenants' Right to Repair Act allows repair and deduct for repairs costing $500 or less (or half of monthly rent, whichever is less)
• Tenant must send written notice by certified or registered mail to landlord's address on the lease
• Landlord has 14 days to make the repair (emergency repairs must be more prompt)
• Emergencies: conditions causing irreparable harm or immediate threat to health/safety
• +5 more requirements

14 days after written notice; immediately for emergencies

• Repair must be required under the lease, law, or local ordinance
• Cost must not exceed the lesser of $500 or one-half of monthly rent
• Tenant must notify landlord in writing by certified or registered mail
• Landlord has 14 days to make the repair after notice
• For emergencies (irreparable harm or immediate health/safety threat), repairs must be made more promptly
• +7 more requirements

No state requirement; Chicago requires 2 days' notice

• NO statewide statute on landlord entry notice requirements
• Entry terms are typically set by the lease agreement
• Landlords should provide reasonable notice as a best practice
• CHICAGO RLTO: Landlord must give 2 days' notice before entry (Mun. Code Ch. 5-12-050)
• Chicago: Notice may be given by mail, phone, written notice, or other good-faith means
• +4 more requirements

Protection applies immediately upon tenant making a protected complaint

• Landlord may NOT terminate or refuse to renew a lease because tenant complained to a government authority about code violations
• The original Retaliatory Eviction Act (765 ILCS 720) was repealed effective January 1, 2025 and replaced by the Let the People Lift the Ban Act (P.A. 103-831)
• The replacement law includes broader retaliatory conduct protections
• Any lease provision permitting termination for making a bona fide complaint is void
• Complaint must be bona fide (made in good faith) regarding building code, health ordinance, or similar regulation
• +3 more requirements

At or before lease signing

• Leases for one year or less may be oral or written; leases over one year must be written (Statute of Frauds)
• Must disclose name and address of person authorized to manage the property
• Must disclose name and address of property owner or owner's agent
• Must disclose how utility bills are split among multiple tenants (765 ILCS 740/5)
• Must disclose rent concessions not stated in the rental agreement (765 ILCS 730/3)
• +7 more requirements

• 7 days' written notice from either party
• 30 days' written notice from either party
• 60 days' written notice before end of year
• Expires on its own terms; no notice required unless lease says otherwise

• Week-to-week: 7 days' notice to terminate (735 ILCS 5/9-207)
• Month-to-month: 30 days' notice to terminate (735 ILCS 5/9-207)
• Year-to-year: 60 days' notice before end of the year (735 ILCS 5/9-205)
• Fixed-term leases end at their stated expiration date
• Either landlord or tenant may give notice to terminate periodic tenancies
• +3 more requirements

After unit vacated and before new tenant takes possession

• Applies ONLY in counties with population over 3,000,000 (i.e., Cook County)
• Landlord must change or rekey locks between tenancies
• Change or rekey means: replacing the lock, replacing the cylinder/mechanism, changing combination/digital lock code, or changing electronic lock access
• Must be completed after prior tenant vacates and before new tenant takes possession
• Does NOT apply to: owner-occupied buildings with 4 or fewer units, or rooms in owner-occupied homes
• +2 more requirements

Effective 30 days after delivery of notice (or 30 days after next rent payment date if rent is monthly)

• Applies to service members entering military service for more than 29 consecutive days
• Also applies to permanent change of station or deployment of 90+ days
• Tenant must deliver written notice to landlord with a copy of military orders
• Termination effective 30 days after notice delivery
• If rent is paid monthly, effective 30 days after next rental payment due date
• +3 more requirements

Effective June 1, 2021; applies to suburban Cook County rentals

• Applies to almost all rental units in suburban Cook County (outside Chicago, which has its own RLTO)
• Does NOT apply to: owner-occupied buildings with 6 or fewer units, hotels/motels, dormitories, or certain subsidized housing
• RTLO summary must be attached to lease agreements (Sec. 42-114)
• Landlord must provide written rental agreement (Sec. 42-104)
• Tenant has right to reasonable notice before landlord entry (Sec. 42-105)
• +7 more requirements

Ongoing; applies to all housing transactions

• Federal Fair Housing Act protects against discrimination based on: race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, disability
• Illinois Human Rights Act adds protected classes: ancestry, age (40+), marital status, sexual orientation, military status, order of protection status, unfavorable military discharge
• Illinois also protects: arrest record, victims of domestic violence (775 ILCS 5/3-102.1)
• Landlords cannot refuse to rent, set different terms, or otherwise discriminate based on protected classes
• Must make reasonable accommodations for tenants with disabilities
• +4 more requirements

At or before lease signing; ongoing maintenance

• Landlord must install working smoke detectors in each rental unit
• Landlord must notify tenant in writing about smoke detector testing and maintenance obligations (425 ILCS 60/3(d))
• Landlord must install carbon monoxide detectors within 15 feet of rooms used for sleeping
• Landlord must notify tenant about CO detector maintenance responsibilities (430 ILCS 135/10(c))
• Smoke detectors required on each level of the dwelling
• +2 more requirements