Illinois residents benefit from the Illinois Landlord and Tenant Act (765 ILCS 705), which balances rights for renters and owners, with 2025 updates enhancing tenant protections like anti-retaliation measures and fee-free payments.​
Tenant Rights
Tenants enjoy habitability guarantees, including working heat, water, and locks, with landlords required to make repairs within 14 days of notice or face rent abatement. New 2025 rules prohibit retaliation—such as evictions or rent hikes—within one year of complaints or organizing, and mandate flood risk disclosures plus radon notices in leases.​
Landlord Obligations
Landlords must return security deposits within 45 days (30 in Chicago), pay interest on deposits for buildings with 25+ units, and offer cash/check payment options without fees alongside digital portals. Evictions require 30–60 days’ notice for month-to-month tenancies, and Chicago’s RLTO caps late fees at $10 or 5% of rent while mandating interest on all deposits.​
Key Differences: Renting vs. Owning
SOURCES
[1](https://www.apartments.com/rental-manager/resources/property-management/rental-laws-illinois-2025)
[2](https://www.ksnlaw.com/blog/2025-laws-impacting-illinois-landlords-rental-managers/)
[3](https://www.oflaherty-law.com/learn-about-law/illinois-landlord-tenant-law-changes)
[4](https://www.doorloop.com/laws/illinois-landlord-tenant-rights)
[5](https://illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/Page-Attachments/LandlordAndTenantRightsLaws.pdf)
