House & Apartment resources

Eviction

Understanding eviction

Learn how housing providers use eviction cases to remove people from a home where they have been allowed to stay.

Guide

Going to court for eviction

Make sense of the eviction court process from filing a case to entry of judgment.

Guide

After an eviction judgment

Understand what can happen after an eviction order is entered.

Guide

Remove eviction from public record

This Easy Form helps you ask a court to remove an eviction from the public record so it does not show up in a background check or credit report.

Easy Form

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Tenants' rights and rental housing

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

Rental repair letter

This Easy Form helps you make a letter telling your landlord you need them to make repairs to your rental unit. The letter may also tell your landlord what legal rights you have as a tenant.

Easy Form

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Mortgage foreclosure

Respond to a mortgage foreclosure complaint

This Easy Form helps you tell the court and the other parties that you are participating in a foreclosure case. The Appearance and Answer forms explain whether you agree or disagree with what is said in the Mortgage Foreclosure Complaint.

Easy Form

Foreclosure for tenants

Learn what changes and what stays the same for tenants when a rental building is in foreclosure.

FAQ

Collecting a surplus after a foreclosure sale

Describes how you can collect extra money if your house is sold for more than what you owe.

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Responding to a mortgage foreclosure case

Steps on how to respond if you received a Complaint and Summons for a mortgage foreclosure case.

How-To

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Owning a home

Homeowner issues

Answers to common questions about owning a home, including property tax exemptions, insurance, and home repairs.

FAQ

Buying a home common questions

Find answers to common questions about buying property, including mortgage financing, inspections, and closing.

FAQ

Real estate fraud basics

Learn about fraud risks in Illinois property deals.

Guide

Dealing with real estate fraud

What Illinois property sellers, buyers, and owners can do when encountering suspected deed fraud (fake seller fraud), wire fraud, or earnest money check fraud.

How-To

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Fair housing

Housing discrimination basics

Find out how fair housing laws apply to renting and buying homes in Illinois.

Guide

Fair housing in Illinois

Answers to common questions about how people renting and purchasing homes in Illinois are protected against unlawful discrimination.

FAQ

Cook County housing rights for people with a criminal record

How suburban Cook County's Just Housing Amendment protects tenants from discrimination based on their criminal record and what landlords need to do to comply with the law.

FAQ

Housing discrimination complaint - IDHR

This Easy Form helps you you make a housing discrimination complaint to file with the Illinois Dept. of Human Rights.

Easy Form

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Housing assistance and public housing

Re-entry resources for prisoners and former prisoners

Resources for recently released individuals returning from prison, including organizations that offer housing, education, employment, and other services for people with criminal records.

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Ending a lease and moving with a Housing Choice Voucher

When a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) lease can end and not be renewed, how to move with a voucher, and the different rules that apply to ending a lease in Project-Based Housing.

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Reasons why Section 8 vouchers can be taken away

There are many reasons why your section 8 housing voucher may be taken away. This article lists why you may lose your rental assistance and potential solutions.

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Appealing a decision to terminate a Section 8 voucher

Steps to appeal a hearing officer's decision to terminate a Section 8 housing voucher after you already had a hearing with the housing authority.

How-To

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Utilities and utility assistance

How to prevent a shut off by the utility company

Explains situations, days, and hours in which a utility company cannot shut off service including holidays.

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Qualifying and Applying for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

Understand how to receive financial assistance to pay for utilities through LIHEAP.

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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.

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The low income household water assistance program (LIHWAP)

Learn about how low-income households can get help paying for their water and wastewater utility bills through the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP).

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Homelessness

Educational rights of children experiencing homelessness

Learn about the educational rights of children experiencing homelessness and services available to help, such transportation and fee waivers.

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Homelessness resources

Learn about resources for people who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness.

FAQ

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Mobile homes

Living in a mobile home park

Explains your rights and responsibilities outlined in the Illinois mobile home regulations for mobile home park tenants.

Guide

Getting the title to your mobile home

Steps to get the title of you mobile home including the forms you need and where you should file them.

How-To

Eviction in a mobile home park

Explains when a park owner can evict a tenant in a mobile home park.

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Park owner's duties in a mobile home park

Explains what a park owner is responsible for in a mobile home park according to Illinois mobile home park laws.

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