Starting January 1, 2025, Illinois will introduce the Landlord Retaliation Act, a new law designed to protect tenants from landlord retaliatory actions. This law will significantly impact Chicago landlords and property managers, who must stay updated on the latest changes in Illinois landlord laws.
Does a Lease Need to Be Notarized in Illinois? No, Illinois lease laws do not require that an Illinois Rental Agreement be notarized. The Lease just needs to be signed by both the Landlord, the lessor, and the Tenant, the lessee.
A lease in Illinois must include the names of all parties, property address, lease term, rent amount, and payment terms. It should be signed by both the landlord and tenant. Specific changes for 2024 can be found in Illinois Lease Agreements: A 2024 Guide.
In most standard Illinois residential leases, tenants are required to provide 30 days' written notice to legally terminate early. The notice period commences at the start of the next rental period after notice is given. Inform your landlord in writing as soon as possible once you decide to leave.
Under the ordinance, landlords must provide: 60 days of notice to terminate your lease if you have lived in your apartment for more than six months but less than three years. 120 days of notice to terminate your lease if you have lived in your apartment for more than 3 years.
In Illinois, tenants without a written lease have legal protections, and landlords must provide justified reasons for evictions, like non-payment of rent. Landlords must give proper notice, document violations carefully, and follow legal procedures to file an eviction lawsuit to avoid complications.
The landlord tenant laws that allow you to break a lease are different from state to state. In many places, you can get out of your lease without penalty for a number of reasons, such as domestic violence, an unsafe environment, or if you've been called up for military service.