Illinois Rent Control Laws: 2024 Landlord/Tenant Guide

A handful of states have rent control to protect tenants and add restrictions on when – and how much – landlords can increase rent. At the end of the day, rent control laws create predictable rent increases that prevent surprises from out-of-nowhere rent increases, though landlords may find them limiting, to put it nicely.

Of course, the benefits of rent control for tenants are evident. However, some states – such as Illinois – do not have rent control. That means landlords have complete control over how much rent can go up and how often.

Today, we’re going to explore rent control in Illinois so that you know how to handle rent increases and fully understand the rights of landlords and tenants.

Key Takeaways

• There is no rent control in Illinois and no Illinois rent increase laws. However, cities like Chicago require at least 30 days’ notice when a rental agreement is in place.
• A proposed bill would limit the amount and frequency of landlord increases in rent.
• While there are no rent control laws in Illinois, landlords and tenants need to be aware of this so that there are no surprises.
• If you’re a landlord in Illinois, rest assured that TurboTenant is a trusted resource for managing rent-related issues. We offer a convenient online platform that includes rent collection, automatic payments, and much more, taking the busy work and the headache of rent payments.

Illinois Rent Control Laws: An Overview

Rent control in Illinois is a pretty straightforward topic. That’s because, in 1997, Illinois passed the Rent Control Preemption Act, which prevents individual cities from capping how much a landlord or property owner can charge for rent or the frequency of rent increases.

Under this Act, landlords can raise rent as much as they deem appropriate, as long as there’s no lease agreement with a fixed term. The most important thing to know is that while landlords can raise rent without caps in Illinois, some cities – such as Chicago – require you to provide ample notice.

Currently, there is no rent increase limit for the City of Chicago and Cook County. However, you must provide 30 days’ notice to increase rent in the City of Chicago and Cook County if a tenant is month to month or in a lease of less than six months. If there’s a six-month to three-year rental term, you must provide 60 days’ notice to increase rent; if the lease exceeds three years, you must provide 120 days’ notice in Chicago. Note: to streamline the leasing process, TurboTenant has pre-made, legally compliant leases for Illinois, the City of Chicago, and Cook County.

To potentially complicate matters, an Illinois rent control bill is working its way through the legislature. If passed, it would institute rent control in Illinois. With inflation and rising rent costs, this bill is getting traction despite similar bills failing in the past.

Regardless of what happens with the bill, landlords and tenants alike can benefit from knowing Illinois rent increase laws. Knowing these laws provides peace of mind that you are raising the rent legally. On the tenant side, it ensures they know what to expect and can plan accordingly.

Rent Increase Limitations in Illinois

Since there are no Illinois rent control laws, there are no restrictions on how much a landlord can increase rent. Some cities simply require notice before a rent hike.

Just Cause for Eviction in Illinois

Even though landlords can increase rent without restrictions in Illinois, tenants might not always be able to pay. That could lead to an eviction. One eviction requirement in Illinois is that there must be “just cause,” and unpaid rent is one reason that often leads to eviction.

Remember that landlords cannot self-evict tenants and must go through the proper Illinois eviction process. If a tenant’s rent is increased, and there is evidence of retaliation, the landlord may not legally be permitted to evict the tenant if they cannot pay – let alone raise the rent in the first place.

Landlord Rights and Responsibilities

Since there’s no rent control in Illinois, you have the right as a landlord to increase rent as often as you choose. However, you cannot raise rent until the renewal period if you have a fixed-term lease. Keep in mind that you must notify tenants in certain cities, such as Chicago, before doing so.

So, how much can a landlord raise rent in Illinois? Ultimately, landlords have the right to increase rent by any amount.

As a landlord, you are responsible for ensuring the tenant has safe living conditions where the home and appliances are concerned. Otherwise, that could be grounds for the tenant to withhold rent.

Tenant Rights and Responsibilities

A tenant has the right to pay what is agreed to in the lease agreement, nothing more. Landlords should also give them the proper amount of notice based on the length of their lease. It is their responsibility to know the Illinois landlord-tenant laws to ensure the landlord is abiding by them and not retaliating from something such as reporting a maintenance concern.

In certain cities in Illinois, increasing rent when a tenant reports a repair need or other concern could be construed as retaliatory. A rent increase may not be possible until at least a year after the event. Otherwise, the tenant may have the right to take legal action.

Navigating Rent Control Laws with TurboTenant

If you own a property in Illinois, know that TurboTenant is here to help. Sure, there is no rent control in Illinois. However, if the Illinois government passes the rent control bill, that could change, forcing landlords to adjust how they manage their rentals and handle rent increases.

The good news is that TurboTenant offers comprehensive rental management software that collects rent online so that you have the proper receipts and documentation a click away at all times. We also offer automatic payments so that rent can be taken out of tenants’ bank accounts on a specific day, increasing the probability that you will get paid on time.

In addition to saving you stress by taking care of rent collection and autopay, we offer many other benefits when you choose us for property management in Illinois. These include but are not limited to:

• Helping you vet applicants by performing a credit check for tenants, as well as screening
• Saving you time with online Illinois lease agreements
• Keeping finances organized with integrated accounting software
• And much more!

Sign up for a free TurboTenant today and make rent collection easier than ever.

Disclaimer: TurboTenant does not provide legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only. All users are advised to check all applicable local, state, and federal laws and consult legal counsel should questions arise.