Do this today
- Put the repair request in writing. Date it. Keep a copy.
- Photograph the condition, including anything that is unsafe — no heat, no water, mold, pests, broken locks.
- Do not withhold rent until you have confirmed that Illinois allows a process for it.
- Ask the city housing or health department whether they take condition complaints.
What should I put in writing?
What is broken, since when, how it affects living in the unit, and that you are asking for repair. Send it in a way you can prove. Illinois tenancy and eviction-related statutes may require written notice before other remedies exist. A text can help; a dated letter you can produce later is stronger.
Can I withhold rent in ${n}?
Sometimes a state has a lawful process for withholding, escrow, or repair-and-deduct. Sometimes skipping rent is itself grounds for eviction. That split is why this site will not tell you to withhold. Confirm Illinois tenancy and eviction-related statutes or ask legal aid in Illinois first.
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
Does Illinois require my landlord to make repairs?
Most states impose a duty to keep a rental habitable. The exact list of systems, the notice you must give, and the remedies are in Illinois tenancy and eviction-related statutes. This page tells you what to write down, not which lever to pull.
Can I withhold rent in Illinois if nothing is fixed?
Only if Illinois law provides a process for it, and only if you follow that process. Ask legal aid before you skip a payment. A wrong withhold can become an eviction case.
Who else can I call in Illinois?
City housing or health departments often take condition complaints. 211 can route you. Legal aid is the right call if a notice or a court paper arrived after you complained.
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 repairs guide has the full sequence. Open the repairs guide
People also ask
Last reviewed 8 September 2026. Legal information, not legal advice. Not a law firm. hello@renterprotection.org