House and high rise apartment building

House & Apartment

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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
(5 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
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
Housing protections for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault
Learn more about the housing rights and protections survivors have under the Illinois Safe Homes Act and the Violence Against Women Act.
FAQ
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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
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Security deposits and fees
(7 resources)
Small claims complaint
This Easy Form helps you make the forms to sue someone for up to $10,000. It can be used to sue a landlord for a security deposit.
Easy Form
Getting or returning a security deposit
How security deposits can be used, when they have to be returned, and how a tenant can get theirs back from their landlord.
Guide
Security deposit demand letter
This Easy Form helps you make a letter asking your landlord to return your security deposit.
Easy Form
Paying interest on security deposits
Explains when a landlord has to pay security deposit interest and how much to pay.
Text article
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Utilities for tenants
(3 resources)
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
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
Public utility service basics
Defines public utilities, explains that services must be provided equally and fairly, and gives information on resolving issues.
Guide
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