House and high rise apartment building

House & Apartment

old-condemned-white-twostory-house-with-windows-boarded-up-picture-id505551799.jpg
Tenants' rights and rental housing

Learn about tenants' rights from rental applications and security deposits to repairs, pest control, and utilities.

How rental housing works
(6 resources)
Applying for rental housing
Learn about rental housing applications, what landlords must disclose before a lease is signed, and how to avoid rental scams.
FAQ
Rental junk fee ban
Understand the new Illinois law that limits application fees and requires fee disclosures for many Illinois rentals.
FAQ
Spoken and written leases
Discover how spoken (oral) and written agreements create leases, rules for lease restrictions, and when landlords can increase rent.
FAQ
Landlord-tenant laws
Understand how laws from many sources, including local landlord-tenant ordinances, apply to Illinois rental housing.
FAQ
View all
Rental living conditions
(11 resources)
Rental living conditions
Learn about how Illinois housing providers must maintain safe and livable conditions, tenants can be protected from retaliation for reporting concerns, and people can request rental repairs.
Guide
Lockouts and emergency rental repairs
Find out what counts as an illegal lockout and how to get emergency rental repairs in Illinois.
FAQ
Rental repair rights and landlord access
Learn about tenants' rental repair rights, including the right to repair and deduct, and when landlords can enter units for repairs.
FAQ
Dealing with pests in rental housing
Learn about how to deal with bugs, rodents, and other pests in a rental home.
FAQ
View all
Security deposits
(8 resources)
Security deposits
Understand the purpose of security deposits.
Guide
Paying a security deposit
Learn the difference between a security deposit and a move-in fee, local limits on how much a security deposit can be, and when interest is due.
FAQ
Using a security deposit
Find out the rules landlords must follow when using a security deposit to make repairs.
FAQ
Getting back a security deposit
Explains steps to get your security deposit back, including writing a demand letter.
How-To
View all
Utilities for tenants
(3 resources)
Reasons a utility company may shut off service
Explains that utility companies must give you a 10 day notice before shutting off service and must have a good reason.
Text article
Basics of public utilities during the winter
Explains the guidelines that public utility companies must follow during the winter or heating season between December 1 and the following March 31, for general consumers.
Text article
Public utility service basics
Defines public utilities, explains that services must be provided equally and fairly, and gives information on resolving issues.
Guide
View all