Illinois Tenant Rights & Lease Help

Illinois Tenancy Law Overview

Illinois residential tenancies are governed by a set of state statutes — the Security Deposit Return Act, the Security Deposit Interest Act, the Forcible Entry and Detainer Act, and others — layered under strong local ordinances in Chicago and some suburbs.

Where you rent matters enormously: a Chicago tenant is covered by the RLTO's detailed protections, while a tenant elsewhere in Illinois relies on the (thinner) state statutes. There is no rent control anywhere in the state.

Key Illinois Tenant Protections

• No statewide cap on security deposits; the Rent Control Preemption Act (50 ILCS 825) also bars Illinois cities from enacting rent control.
• Under the Security Deposit Return Act (765 ILCS 710), landlords of 5+ units must give an itemized statement of damages within 30 days and refund the balance within 45 days of move-out.
• The Security Deposit Interest Act (765 ILCS 715) requires interest on deposits for buildings with 25+ units.
• Eviction must go through the courts under the Forcible Entry and Detainer Act — typically a 5-day notice for non-payment and a 10-day notice for a lease violation.
• Self-help evictions (lockouts, utility shutoffs, removing belongings) are illegal; the Residential Tenants' Right to Repair Act lets tenants repair-and-deduct for certain minor repairs.
• Chicago's Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (RLTO) adds much stronger protections — deposit interest, strict deadlines, and penalties up to twice the deposit for violations.
• Landlords generally cannot retaliate against tenants for complaining to a government agency or exercising their legal rights.

Illinois Cities

A dedicated Chicago RLTO guide is coming soon.

Frequently Asked Questions