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Date: 09/08/2025

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For the best rental housing help, please visit our Eviction Help Illinois page.

Go to Get Legal Help or text 'eviction' to ILAOHelps at 85622 to apply for legal help. Reply Stop to cancel or Help for help. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies. Terms of use and Privacy Policy. 

For help in Cook County, see Cook County Legal Aid for Housing & Debt.

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  2. House & Apartment
  3. Housing assistance and public housing
  4. Grievance hearings in public housing evictions

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House & Apartment

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The Big Picture

Public housing means the government owns and rents an apartment. This is the public housing authority (PHA). The family pays a portion of the rent based on the family's income. Rent is lower than…

More on Fighting eviction from public housing
Grievance hearings in public housing evictions How-To
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A tenant A person who rents a space in a public housing building often has the right to a grievance hearing When the parties in a case present their sides of a case to a judge or other officer to prevent an eviction A court case brought by a landlord to get a tenant to move out . The tenant does not have the right to a grievance hearing if:

  • The tenant does not request the hearing on time;
  • The eviction involves any activity that threatens the health or safety of others;
  • The eviction involves any violent or drug-related criminal activity, on or off the property;
  • The eviction involves any activity resulting in a felony A serious crime that is punishable by more than one year in prison conviction When someone is declared guilty of a crime by a court .

A public housing authority (PHA) must have written grievance procedures.The PHA must provide a copy to the tenant with or as a part of the lease.

Make a written request for an informal hearing

The notice should say if the tenant A person who rents a space has a right to a hearing When the parties in a case present their sides of a case to a judge or other officer , along with the time to submit a request for a hearing. Suppose the tenant is entitled to and wants a grievance hearing. They then must make a written request for the hearing within the notice period. Usually, the request can be delivered in person or mailed. It is important to make sure the request arrives on time to the building manager or housing authority. If the tenant mails the letter, it must arrive on time to give the tenant the right to a hearing. They should keep a copy of the request for a hearing. The tenant should also make sure the building manager or housing authority gets it on time.  

 

Go to the informal grievance hearing

The first step in the process is an informal conference with a building manager or PHA representative. At this hearing When the parties in a case present their sides of a case to a judge or other officer , the tenant A person who rents a space can bring evidence Anything used to show that something is true showing that they have not violated the lease. This evidence can include documents, witnesses, or notarized letters from witnesses who will support them. You can have a representative or attorney with you at the hearing. Sometimes, you can create an agreement at the conference to fix the issue that led to the eviction A court case brought by a landlord to get a tenant to move out notice. For example, if you are behind on rent, you can ask for a repayment agreement at the informal hearing.

After the informal conference, the manager or PHA must issue the tenant a written summary of discussions. They must also send their decision. The document should also say how long the tenant has to request a formal grievance hearing.

If necessary, make a written request for a formal hearing

If the sides cannot reach an agreement, the tenant A person who rents a space may make a written request for a formal grievance hearing When the parties in a case present their sides of a case to a judge or other officer . The tenant can then challenge the eviction A court case brought by a landlord to get a tenant to move out before a hearing officer or hearing panel. At the formal hearing, the tenant can bring:

  • Evidence Anything used to show that something is true ,
  • Witnesses,
  • A representative, or
  • An attorney.

The hearing officer or panel must issue a written decision based on the evidence presented. The decision must explain the basis for the decision and consider mitigating conditions. The decision should tell the tenant the time to request a formal hearing if they are not satisfied with the outcome.

Suppose the tenant requests a formal hearing before the deadline. Then, the landlord An owner of property who rents it out to a tenant cannot file a lawsuit to evict the tenant until he completes the grievance process. If the tenant does not request a formal hearing before the deadline, the decision is final. The landlord will need to file a lawsuit to get an order to evict the tenant. The landlord cannot have the tenant removed from the unit until they have won the court case. The landlord must have an order to remove a tenant and property.

Last full review by a subject matter expert
May 14, 2020
Last revised by staff
May 24, 2020

About our legal information

Learn more

Eviction notices in public housing
Public housing: refusing to renew a tenant's lease

Worried about doing this on your own?  You may be able to get free legal help.

Apply Online

The Big Picture

Public housing means the government owns and rents an apartment. This is the public housing authority (PHA). The family pays a portion of the rent based on the family's income. Rent is lower than…

More on Fighting eviction from public housing

Learn more

Eviction notices in public housing
Public housing: refusing to renew a tenant's lease
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© 2025 Illinois Legal Aid Online. 
All rights reserved.
 
ILAO is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. ILAO's tax identification number is 20-2917133.