Illinois Rental Laws
| Termination for Nonpayment Notice (Eviction Notice) | 5-Day Notice |
| Termination for Lease Violation Notice | 10-Day Notice |
| Small Claim Court Limit | Illinois Small Claim Court Limit is $10,000 |
| Handling Abandoned Property | 735 ILCS 5/9-318 |
| Penalty for Self-Help Eviction | No statute |
| Tenant Withholding Rent for Repairs | (765 ILCS 742/) Residential Tenants’ Right to Repair Act |
| Required Disclosures | Tenant Utility Disclosure Act 765 ILCS 740/5; Rent Concession Act 765 ILCS 730 (Violating this Act is considered Class A misdemeanor); Radon Disclosure |
| Non-Refundable Fees | |
| Security Deposit Rules | Security Deposit Amount: No limit 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. 765 ILCS 710 Landlord with more than 25 units must pay interest on deposits held for more than six months. Deadline for the landlord to itemize and refund the deposit: 30-45 days, depending on the tenant accepting or disputing the deductions. |
| Month-to-Month Notice | Tenant 30 Days Notice; Landlord 30 Days to terminate |
| Payment of Rent | 735 ILCS 5/9-218 |
| Property Entry Notice | No statute |
Nonpayment of Rent
(735 ILCS 5/9-209) (from Ch. 110, par. 9-209)
Sec. 9-209. Demand for rent – eviction action. A landlord or his or her agent may, any time after rent is due, demand payment thereof and notify the tenant, in writing, that unless payment is made within a time mentioned in such notice, not less than 5 days after service thereof, the lease will be terminated. If the tenant does not pay the rent due within the time stated in the notice under this Section, the landlord may consider the lease ended and commence an eviction or ejectment action without further notice or demand. A claim for rent may be joined in the complaint, including a request for the pro rata amount of rent due for any period that a judgment is stayed, and a judgment obtained for the amount of rent found due, in any action or proceeding brought, in an eviction action under this Section.
Notice made pursuant to this Section shall, as hereinafter stated, not be invalidated by payments of past due rent demanded in the notice, when the payments do not, at the end of the notice period, total the amount demanded in the notice. The landlord may, however, agree in writing to continue the lease in exchange for receiving partial payment. To prevent invalidation, the notice must prominently state:
“Only FULL PAYMENT of the rent demanded in this notice will waive the landlord’s right to terminate the lease under this notice, unless the landlord agrees in writing to continue the lease in exchange for receiving partial payment.”
Collection by the landlord of past rent due after the filing of a suit for eviction or ejectment pursuant to failure of the tenant to pay the rent demanded in the notice shall not invalidate the suit.
(Source: P.A. 100-173, eff. 1-1-18.)
Termination for Violation of Lease
(735 ILCS 5/9-210) (from Ch. 110, par. 9-210)
Sec. 9-210. Notice to quit. When default is made in any of the terms of a lease, it is not necessary to give more than 10 days’ notice to quit, or of the termination of such tenancy, and the same may be terminated on giving such notice to quit at any time after such default in any of the terms of such lease. Such notice may be substantially in the following form:
“To A.B.: You are hereby notified that in consequence of your default in (here insert the character of the default) of the premises now occupied by you, being, etc., (here describe the premises) I have elected to terminate your lease, and you are hereby notified to quit and deliver up possession of the same to me within 10 days of this date (dated, etc.).”
The notice is to be signed by the lessor or his or her agent, and no other notice or demand of possession or termination of such tenancy is necessary.
(Source: P.A. 82-280.)
Handling Abandoned Property
(735 ILCS 5/9-318) (from Ch. 110, par. 9-318)
Sec. 9-318. Abandonment of premises. When a tenant abandons or removes from the premises or any part thereof, the landlord or his or her agent or attorney may seize upon any grain or other crops grown or growing upon the premises or part thereof so abandoned, whether the rent is due or not. If such grain or other crops or any part thereof is not fully grown or matured, the landlord or his or her agent or attorney shall cause the same to be properly cultivated and harvested or gathered, and may sell and dispose of the same, and apply the proceeds, so far as may be necessary, to compensate for his or her labor and expenses, and to pay the rent. The tenant may, at any time before the sale of the property so seized, redeem the same by tendering the rent due and the reasonable compensation and expenses of the cultivation and harvesting or gathering the same, or the tenant may replevy the property seized.
(Source: P.A. 82-280.)
Withholding Rent for Repairs
(765 ILCS 742/5)
Sec. 5. Repair; deduction from rent. If a repair is required under a residential lease agreement or required under a law, administrative rule, or local ordinance or regulation, and the reasonable cost of the repair does not exceed the lesser of $500 or one-half of the monthly rent, the tenant may notify the landlord in writing by registered or certified mail or other restricted delivery service to the address of the landlord or an agent of the landlord as indicated on the lease agreement; if an address is not listed, the tenant may send notice to the landlord’s last known address of the tenant’s intention to have the repair made at the landlord’s expense. If the landlord fails to make the repair within 14 days after being notified by the tenant as provided above or more promptly as conditions require in the case of an emergency, the tenant may have the repair made in a workmanlike manner and in compliance with the appropriate law, administrative rule, or local ordinance or regulation. Emergencies include conditions that will cause irreparable harm to the apartment or any fixture attached to the apartment if not immediately repaired or any condition that poses an immediate threat to the health or safety of any occupant of the dwelling or any common area. After submitting to the landlord a paid bill from an appropriate tradesman or supplier unrelated to the tenant, the tenant may deduct from his or her rent the amount of the bill, not to exceed the limits specified by this Section and not to exceed the reasonable price then customarily charged for the repair. If not clearly indicated on the bill submitted by the tenant, the tenant shall also provide to the landlord in writing, at the time of the submission of the bill, the name, address, and telephone number for the tradesman or supplier that provided the repair services. A tenant may not repair at the landlord’s expense if the condition was caused by the deliberate or negligent act or omission of the tenant, a member of the tenant’s family, or another person on the premises with the tenant’s consent.
(Source: P.A. 93-891, eff. 1-1-05.)
