What do Illinois landlord tenant laws say about repairs, entry and deposits?

Illinois landlord tenant day counts and limits, with sources

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What repairs is a landlord responsible for in Illinois?

Under the Residential Tenants' Right to Repair Act (765 ILCS 742/5), read 2026-10-30 on ilga.gov, when a repair is required under the lease or a law, rule or local ordinance and its cost stays under the Act's cap, the tenant may notify the landlord in writing of the intention to have the repair made at the landlord's expense, where the Act applies (742/10): “If a repair is required under a residential lease agreement or required under a law, administrative rule, or local ordinance or regulation, and the reasonable cost of the repair does not exceed the lesser of $500 or one-half of the monthly rent, the tenant may notify the landlord in writing by registered or certified mail or other restricted delivery service to the address of the landlord or an agent of the landlord as indicated on the lease agreement; if an address is not listed, the tenant may send notice to the landlord's last known address of the tenant's intention to have the repair made at the landlord's expense.” (Illinois 765 ILCS 742/5 (Residential Tenants' Right to Repair Act)) The cost cap is tied to one-half of the monthly rent. Under 742/5, a tenant may not repair at the landlord's expense if the condition was caused by the deliberate or negligent act or omission of the tenant, a member of the tenant's family, or another person on the premises with the tenant's consent.

Under 742/10(b) and (e), the Act does not apply to condominiums or to owner-occupied rental property containing 6 or fewer dwelling units.

For a broken heater, a leaking fixture or another repair in an Illinois rental, a manager can post the job on InstaBids with photos and compare written bids on one scope.

How long does a landlord have to make repairs in Illinois?

Under 765 ILCS 742/5, read 2026-10-30 on ilga.gov, if the landlord fails to make the repair within 14 days after the tenant's written notice, or sooner in an emergency, the tenant may have the repair made and deduct the bill from rent after submitting a paid bill, where the Act applies (742/10): “If the landlord fails to make the repair within 14 days after being notified by the tenant as provided above or more promptly as conditions require in the case of an emergency, the tenant may have the repair made in a workmanlike manner and in compliance with the appropriate law, administrative rule, or local ordinance or regulation. Emergencies include conditions that will cause irreparable harm to the apartment or any fixture attached to the apartment if not immediately repaired or any condition that poses an immediate threat to the health or safety of any occupant of the dwelling or any common area. After submitting to the landlord a paid bill from an appropriate tradesman or supplier unrelated to the tenant, the tenant may deduct from his or her rent the amount of the bill, not to exceed the limits specified by this Section and not to exceed the reasonable price then customarily charged for the repair.” (Illinois 765 ILCS 742/5 (Residential Tenants' Right to Repair Act))

Under 742/20, a tenant may not assert as a defense to an action for rent or eviction that rent was withheld under the Act unless the tenant meets all the requirements of the Act, where the Act applies (742/10).

When a repair notice arrives, a manager can describe the repair on InstaBids once and line up written bids from contractors side by side.

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Illinois?

Under 765 ILCS 710/1(a), read 2026-10-30 on ilga.gov, a lessor who has received a security deposit may not withhold any part of the deposit for property damage unless, within 30 days of move-out or the end of the right of possession, whichever is later, the lessor furnished an itemized statement of the damage with paid receipts. Under 710/1(b), a lessor who, through no fault of the lessor, cannot produce receipts may withhold any part of the deposit for damage by giving, in place of receipts, an itemized list, other evidence of the cost and a statement of the reasons.

Under 710/1(a), if no such statement and receipts are furnished, the lessor shall return the security deposit in full within 45 days: “If no such statement and receipts, or copies thereof, are furnished to the lessee as required by this Section, the lessor shall return the security deposit in full within 45 days of the date that the lessee vacated the premises, delivered in person or by postmarked mail directed to the last known address of the lessee or another address provided by the lessee.” (Illinois 765 ILCS 710/1 (Security Deposit Return Act))

Under 710/1(c), upon a finding by a circuit court that the lessor refused to supply the itemized statement or supplied it in bad faith, and failed to return the deposit due in time, the lessor shall be liable for twice the amount of the security deposit due, with court costs and reasonable attorney's fees.

Under 765 ILCS 715/1, a lessor of residential property containing 25 or more units shall pay interest to the lessee on a deposit held for more than 6 months; under 715/3 that Act does not apply to a deposit made with respect to public housing.

For the cleaning and repairs between tenants, a manager can post the turnover job on InstaBids and get written bids on that one scope.

When can a tenant withhold rent over repairs in Illinois?

Under 765 ILCS 742/20, read 2026-10-30 on ilga.gov, where the repair act applies (742/10), a tenant may not assert as a defense rent withheld under the Act without meeting all the requirements of the Act: “A tenant may not assert as a defense to an action for rent or eviction that rent was withheld under this Act unless the tenant meets all the requirements provided for in this Act.” (Illinois 765 ILCS 742/20 (Residential Tenants' Right to Repair Act))

Under 742/5, those steps start when the tenant may notify the landlord in writing, with the cost under the cap of one-half of the monthly rent or the Act's dollar limit, whichever is less; if the landlord fails to make the repair within 14 days, or sooner in an emergency, the tenant may have the repair made and deduct the bill from rent after submitting a paid bill, where the Act applies (742/10).

If a tenant flags a repair that could lead to rent withholding, a manager can post that repair on InstaBids and compare written bids before picking a contractor.

Who does Illinois landlord tenant law cover?

Under 765 ILCS 742/10(b) and (e), read 2026-10-30 on ilga.gov, the repair act does not apply to condominiums or to owner-occupied rental property containing 6 or fewer dwelling units. Section 742/10 also sets aside public housing, not-for-profit residential cooperatives, non-residential tenancies and units under the Mobile Home Landlord and Tenant Rights Act.

Under 765 ILCS 715/1, the deposit interest rule binds only a lessor of property containing 25 or more units, for a deposit held for more than 6 months, and not for public housing (715/3).

Under the Landlord Retaliation Act (765 ILCS 721/5), a landlord may not knowingly act against a tenant because the tenant in good faith did a listed act: “A landlord may not knowingly terminate a tenancy, increase rent, decrease services, bring or threaten to bring a lawsuit against a tenant for possession or refuse to renew a lease or tenancy because the tenant has in good faith done any of the following:” (Illinois 765 ILCS 721/5 (Landlord Retaliation Act)) Under 721/15, an action is not retaliatory if the landlord can prove a legitimate, non-retaliatory basis for it, or began it before the tenant's protected activity.

An owner or a managing agent of a building this Illinois law covers can post a unit repair on InstaBids and compare the written bids that come back.

Illinois statutes a property manager works to

What to put in a written repair scope for an Illinois rental

• The date the tenant's written notice arrived, because if the landlord fails to make the repair within 14 days, or sooner in an emergency, the tenant may have the repair made and deduct the bill from rent after submitting a paid bill, where the Act applies (742/5, 742/10).
• The repair in plain words, with photos, and whether its reasonable cost is under the 742/5 cap, which is tied to one-half of the monthly rent; the tenant may notify the landlord in writing under 742/5 only for a repair under that cap, where the Act applies (742/10).
• At move-out, the date the lessee vacated or the right of possession ended, whichever is later, and the itemized statement with paid receipts, sent within 30 days (710/1(a)).

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Phoning contractors one at a time, or one written scope?

If the landlord fails to make the repair within 14 days after the tenant's notice under 742/5, or sooner in an emergency, the tenant may have the repair made and deduct the bill from rent after submitting a paid bill, where the Act applies (742/10); phoning contractors one at a time eats into those days. On InstaBids you describe the repair once with photos, and contractors send written quotes on that same scope, so you can compare them before anyone calls or visits.

Property managers can post a rental job on InstaBids today.

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Sources

• Illinois 765 ILCS 742/10 (Residential Tenants' Right to Repair Act), read 2026-10-30: www.ilga.gov
• Illinois 765 ILCS 710/1 (Security Deposit Return Act), read 2026-10-30: www.ilga.gov
• Illinois 765 ILCS 715/1 (Security Deposit Interest Act), read 2026-10-30: www.ilga.gov
• Illinois 765 ILCS 721/5 (Landlord Retaliation Act), read 2026-10-30: www.ilga.gov