House & Apartment

Once a repair is requested, the housing provider and people completing the repair may enter the area to:

• Assess the problem,
• Attempt to fix it, and
• Check whether it is resolved.

Landlords are not required to provide notice before entering a unit for emergency repairs.

For non-emergency repairs, landlords and tenants can agree on access. A written lease may also have rules about when landlords and service providers can enter the unit to do repairs.

Some areas in Illinois also have local laws about notice for non-emergency repairs:

• Chicago, Evanston, Oak Park, and suburban Cook County landlords must give 2 days’ notice,
• Urbana landlords must give 24 hours’ notice, unless they are entering within 14 days of a written repair request, and
• Mt. Prospect landlords must give reasonable notice.

Repairs often require multiple visits. The local building or code enforcement department may become involved. For tenants who pay rent with a Housing Choice Voucher (HCV), the local Public Housing Agency (PHA) may also need to inspect.

When there is time, common steps to prepare for repairs include:

• Storing away personal items out of view,
• Clearing a path to the area that needs repair,
• Making a safe space for pets where they will not escape or interfere with the repair process, and
• If there is a written lease, reviewing any restrictions on how the living space is used or maintained.

Some repairs involve access to nearby areas. A landlord An owner of property who rents it out to a tenant or property manager may end up seeing more of the space than just where the problem exists. Housing providers can issue lease violation notices for issues with how the tenant A person who rents a space uses or maintains the unit. Learn more about Addressing lease violations.

Notify the landlord An owner of property who rents it out to a tenant or property manager of the problem. If there is a written lease, follow any instructions about requesting repairs. When possible, calling and talking about the problem can be helpful, especially if there are scheduling concerns.

Useful phrases for calling include:

• “I'm calling to report a repair needed in my unit.”
• “The issue is a [describe the problem in detail]. It's located in the [specific room and location].”
• “This is affecting my living situation because [explain the impact].”
• “Please let me know when someone can address this. I'd appreciate a timeline for when the repairs might be completed.”

Sending a Rental repair letter by certified mail A document delivery service such as the US Postal Service that sends a party a receipt as proof that the documents were mailed and delivered starts the clock for any additional legal options once it is delivered. This step can be taken at any time. Sending the letter sooner rather than later is usually a good idea unless a housing provider:

• Acknowledges a repair request right away, and
• Takes action to fix the problem.

In Urbana, sending a rental repair letter gives the housing provider permission to access the unit without notice for 14 days after the letter is received.

Most private Illinois landlords have 14 days to fix the problem when:

• The situation is not an emergency (learn more about Lockouts and emergency repairs), and
• The repair is required by law or a written lease.

Evanston landlords have 10 days.

Other deadlines may be set by:

• A written lease,
• Local building departments (including Mt. Prospect Code Enforcement and Urbana Building Safety Division), and
• For people who pay rent with a Housing Choice Voucher (HCV), the local Public Housing Agency (PHA).

Learn more about rental repair rights for HCV holders.

Involving the local building department or housing agency may:

• Speed up repairs, and
• Result in more people visiting the unit.

While waiting for the housing provider to fix the problem, monitor the situation:

• Write down details including the date and time if the problem gets worse,
• Respond promptly to communication about the repair, and
• Maintain the space to keep it ready for the landlord, An owner of property who rents it out to a tenant people completing the repair, and any inspectors.

This is also a good time to take photos or video of the issue showing:

• The problem, and
• That the area is accessible and ready for repair.

These photos and videos may become public in a court case if there is a dispute about the repair. Pay attention to what else can be seen or heard. Try not to show:

• Sensitive, expensive, or highly personal items (like medications, computers, or weapons),
• Papers with personal information like birthdates or social security numbers,
• Unauthorized pets, or
• People’s images or voices, unless their presence is necessary.

If the problem continues, complete any steps that have not already been taken:

• Send a Rental repair letter by certified mail, A document delivery service such as the US Postal Service that sends a party a receipt as proof that the documents were mailed and delivered
• Contact the local building department or code enforcement office, and
• For people who pay rent with a Housing Choice Voucher (HCV), alert the local Public Housing Agency (PHA).

When repair and deduct applies, follow the rules carefully. Wait the full amount of time given in the Rental repair letter after it is delivered before taking action. Learn more about repair and deduct.

Local code enforcement and building departments can help move repairs forward. Call the city or township to connect with the right department to request an inspection. For example:

• In Chicago, call Chicago 311 or submit an online Building Violation Request,
• In Evanston, call Evanston 311,
• In DeKalb, call the Code Enforcement Division at (815) 748-2070,
• In Mt. Prospect, call Mt. Prospect Code Enforcement at (847) 870-5668,
• In Oak Park, call the Oak Park Community Relations Division at (708) 358-5405, and
• In Urbana, call the Urbana Building Safety Division at (217) 384-2443.

For people with an HCV, reach out to the local housing agency about repairs that are taking too long. Learn more about rental repair rights for HCV holders.

Talk to a lawyer Someone who represents clients in courts or who gives legal advice before taking additional steps such as withholding When an employer keeps some of a person's paycheck to cover their taxes rent or moving out. Use Get Legal Help or contact:

• Eviction Help Illinois statewide, or
• Cook County Legal Aid for Housing and Debt in Cook County.