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Eviction

Eviction is a legal process for removing a person from property.

In Illinois, only the sheriff can evict someone who lives in a home by spoken or written agreement. Trying to force a person out by changing locks, turning off utilities, or creating an unsafe or unlivable environment is illegal, even if rent is unpaid and rules are broken. A landlord must file a court case and get a judge’s order before the sheriff can remove the person.

Squatters are people living in a property without any permission. As of January 1, 2026, law enforcement officers can remove squatters for criminal trespassing without a court order. The property owner must prove ownership for this to happen. 

For help with housing issues, use Get Legal Help to find local legal resources or contact:

Housing protections for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault
Learn more about the housing rights and protections survivors have under the Illinois Safe Homes Act and the Violence Against Women Act.
FAQ
Before an eviction case
(24 resources)
Understanding eviction
Learn the basics of eviction, a legal process for removing people from a home where they have been allowed to stay.
Guide
Written eviction notices
Get the facts on written eviction notices, including service and what happens if a housing provider accepts rent after giving a notice to a tenant.
FAQ
Dealing with unpaid rent
Learn when a landlord must serve a written eviction notice for unpaid rent in Illinois, how notices must be delivered, tenants’ rights to pay and stay, payment plans, late fees, and court-based rental assistance options.
FAQ
Addressing lease violations
Learn about written eviction notices for lease violations in Illinois, including notice requirements, service methods, cure rights, crime-free ordinances, and tenant protections.
FAQ
Negotiating a move-out agreement without going to court
Learn how to make a move-out agreement without going to court.
How-To
Personal service of a written eviction notice
How to do personal service of written eviction notices in Illinois, including preparation, safety tips, proper delivery, and proof of service to comply with state law.
How-To
Substitute service of a written eviction notice
How to legally serve written eviction notices in Illinois using substitute service, including preparation, safety tips, delivery rules, and proof of service.
How-To
Mailing an eviction notice
How to serve written eviction notices in Illinois by certified or registered mail, including preparation, mailing steps, delivery rules, and proof of service.
How-To
Posting an eviction notice
How to legally post written eviction notices in Illinois on vacant or abandoned units, including preparation, safety, posting rules, and proof of service.
How-To
Ending the lease
Identify the legal requirements for ending leases and explore relevant legal documents.
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Chicago residential landlord-tenant ordinance or RLTO
Understand the law for landlords and tenants in Chicago, unless the building has 6 or less units and the landlord lives there.
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Lockouts
Explains when it is legal or illegal for a landlord to change the locks or shut off the utilities in a rental unit or home.
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Ending a lease and moving with a Housing Choice Voucher
When a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) lease can end and not be renewed, how to move with a voucher, and the different rules that apply to ending a lease in Project-Based Housing.
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Rights for renters in suburban Cook County as of June 1st, 2021
A blog post that explains the Cook County Residential Tenant Landlord Ordinance. Describes the rights tenants have under the law.
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Paying rent and utilities
Discusses common issues for renters such as roommates, utilities, late fees, working for rent, and rent increases.
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My landlord wants to end my lease to sell the house/apartment building. Can they do that?
An article about tenants' rights when the landlord wants to end the lease.
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Can my landlord evict me for being an immigrant?
The Immigrant Tenant Protection Act, effective since 8/21/19, protects tenants from being evicted because they are undocumented. It also prohibits landlords from calling ICE on their tenants in order to evict them.
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End lockout letter
A program to help you demand that your landlord let you back into your home. Use this program to create a lockout letter if your landlord illegally locked you out or forced you out of your home.
Easy Form
Trouble paying bills basics
How to manage bills, from prioritizing debts to finding useful resources.
Guide
Grievance hearings in public housing evictions
Steps for a tenant in public housing to request a grievance hearing to try and stop the eviction from happening.
How-To
Locked out in Cook County? You can sue your landlord for 2 months' rent.
A law took effect January 28, 2021 that gives tenants in Cook County rights against lockouts.
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Section 8 voucher termination hearings - tenants' rights
Describes a tenant's right to a fair hearing after a voucher termination.
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Getting a short extension on your lease
You don’t want to tie yourself to your old place for too long, but the new place isn’t ready yet. The best solution for you is to renew your lease as a month-to-month lease at your old place. That’s the minimum tie you can have and the easiest to cut.
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Public housing: refusing to renew a tenant's lease
Your options if a public housing landlord refuses to renew your lease.
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During an eviction case
(14 resources)
Going to court for eviction
Learn about eviction cases and understand the legal steps for removing occupants.
Guide
Evict a tenant
This Easy Form helps you make notice and eviction complaint forms to evict a tenant in Illinois.
Easy Form
Common eviction defenses
A tenant can use a defense (legal reason) to ask the judge to throw out an eviction case. Some eviction defenses are listed.
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Respond to an eviction
This Easy Form helps you respond to an eviction by telling the court and the other parties that you are participating in a court case. It also helps you make an Eviction Answer, Defenses, and Counterclaims form that tells how you respond to what is written in the complaint.
Easy Form
Emergency rent assistance available in eviction court
Describes a rent payment program for landlords and tenants with an eviction court case.
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Filing an eviction case
Steps to evict a tenant, from the forms you need to how the court hearing works.
How-To
How to respond to eviction papers
Steps to take to protect your rights after being served with eviction papers.
How-To
Court forms to settle eviction cases
Use free statewide court forms to resolve eviction cases in ways that help both renters and landlords.
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Motion to Dismiss - Landlord posted eviction notice on door
Use this form if you were sued for eviction after your landlord posted the eviction notice on your door. It will help you dismiss the case because landlords must either hand-deliver or send the eviction notice via certified mail.
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Renter cannot be found or tenant is avoiding service
If a renter can't be found, there are other ways to give the tenant eviction papers.
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Eviction in a mobile home park
Explains when a park owner can evict a tenant in a mobile home park.
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Fighting eviction from public housing
Describes your options if you are being evicted from public housing.
Guide
Evicting tenants who filed for bankruptcy
Information on whether you can evict a tenant who has filed for bankruptcy.
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Eviction Actions
Manual on statutory indications for eviction actions. 2023 edition
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After an eviction judgment
(6 resources)
Remove eviction from public record
A program to help you ask a judge to remove an eviction court file from the public record so it does not show up in a background check or credit report.
Easy Form
Asking for more time to move out after an eviction
Explains the process for requesting more time to move out when an Eviction Order has been entered in your case.
How-To
What happens if I have an eviction on my record?
Explains how an eviction on your record can impact your ability to find housing.
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Extend time of eviction
This Easy Form helps you make forms to ask the court for more time in your rental unit after being evicted.
Easy Form
What if I don't move out by the date ordered by the court?
Get the facts on what happens if a tenant doesn't move out by the eviction date ordered by a judge.
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Moving out after a judge orders an eviction
Explains how much time you will have to move out after a judge orders your eviction.
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Other eviction issues
(4 resources)
Foreclosure for tenants
Learn what changes and what stays the same for tenants when a rental building is in foreclosure.
FAQ
Collecting assessments from delinquent condo owners
Explains procedures a condominium association may use to get unpaid HOA payments from owners who refuse to pay.
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Building sold to a new landlord
Describes the responsibilities of landlords when buildings are sold
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Chicago Renters' Rights Videos
Learn about navigating the eviction process as a landlord or tenant, tenants' rights and responsibilities, resources for conflict resolution, and programs that can help.
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