Landlord Rights and Requirements in Chicago & Schaumburg, Illinois
Suburban Legal Group, PC fights for Tenants for bad housing conditions and violations of security deposit refund requirements. We also provide Eviction Defense in Illinois, landlords must provide habitable, safe housing, make repairs within 14 days of notice, and adhere to proper eviction procedures. Tenants have the right to a safe home, privacy (reasonable notice before entry), and protection against retaliatory actions. Security deposits must be returned within 45 days if no damage exists, or 30 days with an itemized list of deductions.
Landlord Rights and Requirements
- Habitability & Repairs: Landlords must maintain essential services (heat, water, electricity) and comply with local codes. Major repairs are required within 14 days.
- Entry: Landlords must provide notice for non-emergency entry.
- Security Deposits: Landlords can use deposits for damages (not wear and tear) or unpaid rent, but must provide an itemized statement within 30 days of move-out if withholding any money. In buildings with 25+ units, interest may be required.
- Eviction: Landlords must follow legal, court-ordered eviction procedures; illegal lockouts (e.g., shutting off utilities, changing locks) are prohibited.
- Disclosures: Landlords must disclose known flood risks (including, in some cases, basement or lower-level flooding in the past 10 years) before signing a lease.
Tenant Rights
- Repair and Deduct: If a landlord fails to make repairs within 14 days, tenants may have the right to fix the issue and deduct the cost from rent.
- Withholding Rent: In extreme cases, if a unit is unlivable, rent withholding may be legal, but only with legal counsel to avoid eviction.
- Privacy: Landlords cannot disrupt "quiet enjoyment" or use illegal, forced entry.
- Retaliation: Landlords cannot retaliate (e.g., raising rent, threatening eviction) against tenants who complain to city inspectors or join a tenant union.
- Move-in/Move-out: Tenants have the right to a proper, written lease and, in many cases, a move-in inspection.
Key Legal Protections & Specific Areas
- Chicago & Cook County: Areas like Chicago and Cook County have stricter, more tenant-friendly ordinances (e.g., mandatory interest on deposits, stricter notice periods).
- Discrimination: Federal and state law forbids discrimination based on race, religion, sex, familial status, and more.
- Rent Increases: Rent cannot be increased during a set lease term, but can be on renewal with proper notice (30 days for month-to-month).
