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.
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.
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.
Length of Tenancy Most often they are for six months or less or month-to-month. Lease agreements, on the other hand, are typically for a much longer period of time. It is common for a lease to be for a period of 12 months, but it can also be for many years.
In the law of several US states, a 99-year lease will always be the longest possible contract for realty by statute, but many states have enacted shorter terms and some allow infinite terms.