House & Apartment

Pests are animals that cause problems for humans. In Illinois, pests that affect housing include ants, cockroaches, mice, rats, raccoons, and possums. Bed bugs also may appear in residential buildings.

Part of keeping rental housing livable is preventing and controlling pests. When pests show up, tenants and landlords must work together to resolve the issue. 

Bed bugs are small, flat, brown insects about the size of an apple seed. They do not spread disease but do bite. Bed bugs hide in beds, couches, and other tight spaces. They can also move through cracks in walls or floors. Learn more from the Illinois Department of Public Health.

To prevent bed bugs:

• Avoid bringing home used bedding or furniture without checking for bed bugs,
• Do not take furniture from the trash,
• Check luggage after travel,
• Wash sheets often, and
• Use a mattress cover.

Landlords must pay for removal unless they can prove the tenant brought in the bed bugs, which is usually difficult.

Most pests enter homes in search of food, water, or shelter. Bed bugs are different. They travel by hitching rides on people, clothing, bags, or furniture.

Once inside a building, pests may reproduce rapidly.

To reduce the chance of pests:

• Seal cracks, gaps, or holes in doors, windows, or old plumbing,
• Wipe up spills and crumbs right away,
• Store food in sealed containers,
• Use screens on doors and windows,
• Keep clutter to a minimum,
• Clean up after pets,
• Cover trash and recycling bins, and
• Report problems with the building that could allow pests to get in.

Tenants are responsible for keeping their units clean and letting the housing provider know promptly about pest issues. 

Tenants must tell the landlord right away about:

• Pests,
• Evidence of pests, like mouse droppings, or
• Conditions that could invite pests.

If a landlord will not fix a pest issue, the tenant can:

• Send a 14-day repair notice,
• Contact local housing or government officials,
• Report the issue to the housing authority if the unit is subsidized, and
• Use our Get Legal Help tool to find additional resources.

People can also take steps to limit pest problems by caring for their own space. Tenants can:

• Remove trash and pet waste promptly,
• Store food in pest-proof containers,
• Tidy clutter that pests could use to hide,
• Wipe down all surfaces used for food preparation, and
• Use traps or bait inside the unit (unless the lease says not to).

Landlords are responsible for keeping the building safe and sealed against pests. This requires dealing with pest problems, including bed bugs, right away. Regular treatments may be necessary.

Landlords can monitor for pests and building problems that may lead to infestations. This might include:

• Sealing holes or cracks that lead outside,
• Paying for pest control,
• Using safe treatments for pets and plants, and
• Choosing traps, bait, or chemical treatments.

When notified by tenants, housing providers must address:

• Pest problems, or
• Conditions that could lead to an infestation.

Most Illinois landlords do not need to hire pest control professionals to offer pest treatments. They can use store-bought products and ask property maintenance workers to perform treatments. In Chicago, however, bed bug cases require specific services.

Tenants cannot:

• Choose the vendor,
• Add new rules about the visit, or
• Change the treatment process.

Tenants may refuse the landlord's pest treatment, except for Chicago bed bug inspections and control measures. Tenants must still keep the unit clean and free of pests. If the tenant allows a pest problem to continue because they disagree with the treatment offered by the landlord, the landlord can serve a lease violation notice. Learn more in Addressing lease violations.

Pest control visits can be disruptive. Tenants may have concerns about:

• Privacy,
• Caregiving,
• Working from home, and
• Potential toxins.

When possible, discussing these issues can help tenants plan. However, a property owner does not have to give a tenant more details about the exact time of the service than the pest control provider offers. Pest control services can be scheduled:

• As appointments at a specific time for a particular unit,
• Within a designated time window on a specific day, or
• For a building on a specific day during regular business hours.

Pest control is handled the same way as repairs:

• In an emergency situation, a housing provider can access the unit without notice.
• When pest control is planned, the landlord must follow local laws about telling tenants beforehand. 

Landlords may allow the pest control provider to enter the unit even if the tenant is not home.

If a tenant blocks access, the landlord may:

• Charge the tenant for the rescheduled service visit, or
• Serve a lease violation notice (learn more in Addressing lease violations).

In Chicago, the Bed Bug Ordinance splits duties between landlords and tenants:

• Landlords must give tenants a brochure about bed bugs when a lease begins,
• Tenants must report signs of bed bugs within 5 days,
• Landlords must have the unit inspected by a professional within 10 days of the report,
• If bed bugs are found, nearby units must also be inspected,
• Treatment only happens if bed bugs are confirmed, and
• The city can fine landlords or tenants up to $2,000 for violations.

Evanston landlords must give tenants information about bed bugs at lease signing. The materials explain how to spot, report, and treat bed bug problems. This is required by Evanston's Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance, section 5-3-5-2(F).