Do this today
- Keep move-in and move-out photos, dated, of every room and the condition of walls, floors, appliances, and keys.
- Keep the lease, the receipt for the deposit, and a record of how keys were returned.
- Give a forwarding address in writing.
- List each disputed deduction in one sentence with the reason.
What usually has to be proven?
A deposit dispute in Illinois is a records problem first. What was paid, what was deducted, what the unit looked like at both ends, and whether keys were returned as the lease required. Illinois tenancy and eviction-related statutes is the chapter to open for caps, timing, and itemization — not a national chart.
Should I send a demand letter?
A calm, dated letter that lists each deduction and a way to reach you is something any renter can write. Send it in a way you can prove. Small-claims court exists in Illinois; whether it is worth filing, and what the court can order, is a question for legal aid or the court's own self-help materials.
Is Illinois the same as Chicago for renters?
No. Illinois statutes are the statewide floor. Chicago’s Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (Municipal Code ch. 5-12) covers a large share of Chicago units — and not every unit, and not the suburbs. Cook County suburbs are a different ordinance. Confirm the address.
The Illinois chapter
Illinois tenancy and eviction-related statutes (765 ILCS 705 to 755) is the starting point. We name it. We do not paraphrase a day-count or a dollar cap out of it.
Illinois has a statewide Landlord and Tenant Act, but a large share of Illinois renters are covered by a city ordinance that adds to it. Chicago and several suburbs and counties have their own residential landlord–tenant ordinances.
Chicago has a Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance. Cook County, Evanston and other Illinois municipalities have adopted their own ordinances. Which one applies depends on the address and sometimes on the size or type of the building.
Official sources
- StatuteIllinois Landlord and Tenant Act (765 ILCS 705)Illinois General Assembly, the state's official statute publisher.
- Free legal helpIllinois Legal Aid Online — Landlord-tenant lawsStatewide legal-aid guides, including which local ordinance covers an address.
- Statute indexCornell LII landlord-tenant table765 ILCS 705 to 755
- FederalHUD — Illinois
- Free legal helpLawHelp.org — Illinois
Common questions
Is there a national cap on security deposits in Illinois?
No. Any cap, any itemization rule, and any return deadline for Illinois live in Illinois tenancy and eviction-related statutes — sometimes in a city rule too. This site does not reprint them.
Can my landlord in Illinois keep the deposit for normal wear?
Ordinary wear and damage are different ideas in most states. What counts as each is a Illinois and facts question. Photos from move-in and move-out are what make that argument possible.
Where do I confirm the Illinois deposit rule?
Open Illinois tenancy and eviction-related statutes, or take the file to legal aid. A city housing department may add rules the state does not.
Is Illinois the same as Chicago for renters?
No. Illinois statutes are the statewide floor. Chicago’s Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (Municipal Code ch. 5-12) covers a large share of Chicago units — and not every unit, and not the suburbs. Cook County suburbs are a different ordinance. Confirm the address.
The national security deposit guide has the full sequence. Open the security deposit guide
People also ask
Last reviewed 8 September 2026. Legal information, not legal advice. Not a law firm. hello@renterprotection.org