Illinois has an extensive set of rental laws that continue to evolve each year. To keep abreast of these changes and stay compliant, you need to familiarize yourself with the landlord-tenant laws in Illinois and any recent changes that went into effect.
Key Takeaways
- Illinois’ 2025 legal updates strengthen tenant rights with new laws on landlord retaliation, reusable screening reports, mandatory flood disclosures, and fee-free payment options for rent. Landlords must also start including a state-issued tenant rights summary in leases in 2026.
- Chicago rental laws go beyond state requirements and include additional mandates on topics such as habitability standards, security deposit interest, and landlord conduct.
Overview of Rental Laws in Illinois
Illinois landlord-tenant rules are primarily set forth in state statutes that govern the rights and responsibilities of both landlords and renters. These laws cover core issues like leases, security deposits, required disclosures, maintenance, notices, and the eviction process, which helps define what’s allowed and what’s required throughout a tenancy.
Below are a few subject areas, along with the corresponding sections of Illinois state law.
1. Rent control (50 ILCS 825)
Rent control is illegal in Illinois; local governments and cities cannot create rent control laws.
2. Security deposit return (765 ILCS 710)
When a tenant moves out, the landlord has 30 days to send a written list of any damages, repair costs, and receipts by mail, email, or in person. If the landlord doesn’t send this list, they must return the full security deposit within 45 days. If a landlord ignores these rules, a court can require them to pay the tenant twice the deposit amount, plus legal fees.
3. Rent concessions (765 ILCS 730)
Landlords must be upfront about any rent discounts or special deals they offer tenants. A rent concession is anything that lowers the true cost of rent, like a free month or reduced rate, that isn’t listed in the lease.
To stay compliant, landlords must follow specific rules on including the concession in the lease, like marking the lease clearly with “Concession Granted” and explaining the details and value of the concession.
4. Utilities (765 ILCS 735)
This law ensures tenants keep essential services, and landlords stay accountable for their part of the utilities. So, landlords must pay utility bills on time when they’re responsible for services like water, gas, or electricity.
If utilities are shut off because of nonpayment, tenants can pay the bill themselves, deduct the cost from rent, or end the lease. Landlords must also give written notice and provide the past 12 months of utility bills before renting if meters cover shared spaces.
It’s illegal for landlords to shut off or tamper with utilities to force tenants out. If tenants pay for utilities they don’t owe, they can recover those costs, and possibly damages or legal fees.
5. Immigration tenant protections (765 ILCS 755)
It is illegal for landlords to harass, threaten, or evict tenants based on their immigration or citizenship status. Landlords cannot threaten to report, or actually report, a tenant to immigration authorities, police, or anyone else to pressure them to move out. These protections apply to all rental housing, whether the agreement is written or verbal.
6. Fair housing (775 ILCS 5 Article 3)
Illinois fair housing rules are set by the Illinois Human Rights Act. As a landlord, you cannot discriminate because of protected traits, including race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, familial status, disability, immigration status, source of income, or arrest record. Discriminatory acts include:
- Refusing to rent
- Setting different terms
- Misrepresenting availability
- Making a rental more difficult to rent
Advertising and screening materials cannot express a preference or limitation tied to those traits. Steering, blockbusting, and using criteria that have an unnecessary disparate impact are prohibited as well.
Additionally, you must provide reasonable accommodation and allow reasonable modifications for renters with disabilities. You also can’t charge extra or refuse to rent because a renter has a service animal.
7. Eviction (735 ILCS 5)
This section outlines things to know about eviction. Landlords cannot change the locks, remove belongings, or conduct self-help removals of tenants. You must file an eviction action in court, and only a sheriff or authorized officer can carry out the eviction after a judge issues an eviction order.
You can start the eviction process if:
- Rent isn’t paid after giving the tenant a written 5-day notice.
- The lease ends and the tenant stays without permission.
- The tenant breaks or violates the lease, such as damaging property, breaking building rules, or engaging in illegal activity.
- Someone additional moves in without authorization or legal right.
You must give tenants proper written notice before filing an eviction in court. The required notice period depends on the issue:
- 5-day notice for unpaid rent.
- 10-day notice for lease violations.
- 30- or 60-day written notice to terminate month-to-month or year-to-year leases.
If the tenant doesn’t move out or fix the problem within the notice period, you can then file an eviction complaint in court. After filing, you must arrange for the tenant to be served with the summons and complaint. Service is typically completed by the sheriff or an authorized process server, depending on local court rules.
8. Habitability
Landlords must keep rental units up to state and local habitability standards. While requirements vary by location, housing codes typically address basics such as:
- Radon (420 ILCS 46)
- Carbon monoxide alarms (430 ILCS 135)
- Smoke detectors (425 ILCS 60)
- Lead (410 ILCS 45)
- Exits/entrances
- Heat
- Water
9. Residential Tenants’ Right to Repair Act (765 ICLS 742)
Renters can fix certain issues themselves if their landlord doesn’t act. If a repair required by law or lease costs $500 or less, or is less than half of the monthly rent, the tenant can notify the landlord in writing by certified mail.
If the landlord doesn’t resolve the issue within 14 days (or sooner for emergencies that risk property damage or safety), the tenant can hire a qualified professional, pay for the repair, and deduct the cost from their rent. This only applies if the work is done reasonably and properly, and the repair isn’t needed due to damage caused by the tenant or the tenant’s guests.
New in 2025: Legal Updates for Landlords in Illinois
Safe Homes Act (765 ILCS 750)
This law provides protections for tenants who are victims of domestic or sexual violence, stalking, or dating violence. Effective January 1, 2026, landlords must include the “Summary of Rights” document (765 ILCS 752) as the first page of all leases, including renewals.
Landlord Retaliation (Public Act 103-0831) (765 ILCS 721)
The Landlord Retaliation Act went into effect January 1, 2025, and protects tenants from landlords who try to punish them for exercising their rights. Landlords can’t raise rent, cut utilities, refuse to renew a lease, evict, or take other retaliatory actions if a renter does a protected activity or action like reporting unsafe conditions, requesting repairs, joining a tenants’ group, or taking legal action.
If a landlord violates this law, tenants can take them to court, end their lease, reclaim their deposit, or even recover up to two months’ rent (or double their actual damages), plus attorney’s fees. The law replaces the old Retaliatory Eviction Act and adds a key protection: if a landlord takes negative action within a year after a tenant’s protected activity, courts will assume it’s retaliation, unless the landlord proves otherwise.
Tenant Screening Reports (Public Act 103-0840) (765 ILCS 705/25)
Starting January 1, 2025, renters can share a reusable tenant screening report with landlords, meaning they won’t need multiple checks or be required to pay the screening fee each time. If the report meets the requirements, landlords cannot charge a fee to access the report or charge an application screening fee.
Reusable reports must meet the stipulated requirements:
- The report must be less than 30 days old.
- It has to come from a credit reporting agency at the renter’s request and expense.
- It must be available directly to the landlord or provided through a third-party site that regularly offers reusable tenant screening reports and follows all state and federal regulations.
- The landlord must be able to access and use the report at no cost.
- The report includes all the information that landlords typically ask during screening.
Landlords can still ask renters to verify that nothing important in the report has changed. If your city or county has stronger renter protections, those local laws still apply. Landlords can collect their own screening report, but it has to be at their expense, meaning they can’t charge the tenant another screening fee.
Landlord/Tenant Additional Fees (Public Act 103-0809) (765 ILCS 705/3.5)
Landlords who collect rent through third-party payment portals must provide tenants with at least one no-fee payment option. If your online payment system imposes charges or transaction fees, such as e-checks or other electronic payment methods, you must also allow tenants to pay by cash, paper check, or another method that doesn’t add extra charges.
Flood disclosure (Public Act 103-0754) (765 ILCS 705/25)
Flooding problems must be disclosed to renters before they sign a lease, as well as within the lease (including both future risks and past problems). Further, landlords must disclose in writing if the home is in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area and whether the property or parking areas have flooded before, including how often.
If a renter applies for a lower-level unit, the landlord must also say whether that unit, or any part of the property, has flooded in the past 10 years.
Chicago Rental Laws: Local Ordinances to Know
With one of the largest renter populations in the state, Chicago has its own landlord-tenant requirements that apply in addition to Illinois state law. That means a lease or policy that meets statewide rules may still need adjustments to comply with city-specific standards if your rental is located within Chicago city limits.
Chicago's regulations can affect everything from required notices and fees to tenant protections and documentation, so it’s worth reviewing them closely. Many of the key requirements can be found in Chapter 5-12, “Residential Landlord and Tenant,” of the Chicago Municipal Code. The Code includes subjects such as:
- Landlord responsibilities (5-12-070)
- Landlord access (5-12-050)
- Security deposit and prepaid rent (5-12-080)
- Security deposit interest rate (5-12-081)
- Written notice of owner’s or manager’s name and information (5-12-090)
- Habitability notices (5-12-100)
- Landlord remedies (5-12-130)
- Subleases (5-12-120)
- Prohibited lease stipulations (5-12-140)
- Retaliatory conduct (5-12-150)
If you own rentals in Chicago, make sure the city requirements are part of your standard process—not an afterthought. Knowing the regulations can help you avoid preventable disputes, reduce compliance risk, and set clear expectations with tenants from the start.
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Understanding Illinois rental laws is key to running a compliant, successful rental. Whether you manage one unit or several, Apartments.com Rental Manager helps simplify every step—from listing your property to screening applicants online and collecting rent securely. With built-in tools and organized records, you can effectively manage your rental process and stay on top of key requirements.
FAQs
What are the new rental laws in Illinois?
The newest rental laws in Illinois cover:
- The Safer Homes Act
- Landlord retaliation
- Tenant screening reports
- Additional fees
- Flood disclosure
How much time does a landlord have to give a tenant to move out in Illinois?
It depends on the issue. Nonpayment of rent has a five-day notice requirement while terminating leases has anywhere from 30-60 days, depending on the lease term. For evictions, the period before the sheriff enforces the eviction depends on the county rather than state law.
This material is not all-encompassing and is intended for general informational purposes only. It should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. For recommendations tailored to your situation, seek guidance from a licensed attorney or qualified expert.
Originally published on November 7, 2025 and has been updated.
