Illinois Landlord & Tenant Legal Help, Made Simple.
Lease problems, security deposits, property damage, and rental disputes can quickly become frustrating. DocDraft helps Illinois landlords and tenants understand their options, prepare personalized legal documents, and take the next step toward a resolution.
- Straightforward guidance
- Illinois-specific documents
- Attorney help available
- saved on legal fees
- $100M+
- documents created
- 50,000+
- customers served
- 23,000+
- saved per matter
- $1,200
Resolve rental issues with greater confidence.
Whether you own a rental property or live in one, you deserve a straightforward way to address legal issues without starting from scratch.
Understand your rights and responsibilities
Get help navigating the issues affecting your rental property or lease.
Prepare the documents you need
Draft personalized notices, agreements, and letters based on your situation.
Take action on your own terms
Work toward a resolution independently, with professional legal support available when needed.
What can we help you with?
Lease Agreements
Prepare residential lease documents and clarify the terms of a rental arrangement.
Lease Termination
Understand and document steps involved in ending a lease or rental relationship.
Security Deposit Disputes
Address withheld deposits, disputed deductions, and requests for repayment.
Repairs & Maintenance
Document repair requests, maintenance concerns, and related communications.
Property Damage
Address disagreements about damage, responsibility, and potential reimbursement.
Rent & Lease Violations
Prepare relevant notices and correspondence involving unpaid rent or alleged violations.
How it works
Describe your rental issue
Tell DocDraft whether you’re a landlord or tenant and explain what’s happening.
Prepare your legal documents
Get help drafting a letter, notice, agreement, or other relevant document based on your answers.
Work toward a resolution
Review your documents, communicate your position, and understand when additional legal help may be useful.
- Tell me what happened.
- The heater in my Illinois rental has been broken for three weeks.
- Which Illinois county is this in?
- Cook County
- What would you like this document to do?
- A written repair request that lists my earlier messages.
- Repair request letterFirst draft ready to review
I am writing to request repair of the heater, which has not worked for three weeks despite my earlier messages.
Understanding landlord-tenant law in Illinois
Illinois law establishes rights and responsibilities for both residential landlords and tenants, and some cities add their own rules. In Chicago, for example, the Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance sets additional requirements for many rentals, including security deposits and interest.
Landlords generally must follow specific requirements when handling security deposits, notices, and eviction proceedings. For unpaid rent, a landlord generally must give a written demand allowing at least 5 days to pay before ending the lease and filing an eviction case. Subsidized or federally backed housing may require longer notice.
In many situations, written communication and good documentation are important first steps.
Under Illinois's Security Deposit Return Act, a landlord who withholds part of a deposit for damage generally must provide an itemized statement within 30 days after the tenant moves out. Without that statement, the deposit generally must be returned in full within 45 days. Other conditions and exceptions may apply.
The appropriate action depends on the lease, the property's location, and the facts of the dispute.
Bring your draft. Ask your questions.
Some questions call for more than paperwork. Explore document review and consultation options with a licensed attorney.
12. Security deposit. Landlord will refund the deposit, less deductions for damage beyond normal wear and tear1, within 45 days after Tenant vacates, with an itemized statement of any damage deductions delivered within 30 days.
Does carpet wear from two years of normal living count as damage?
18. Default. If rent is late, Landlord may demand payment by giving Tenant written notice allowing at least five days to pay2; if Tenant does not pay in full within that time, Landlord may end the lease and file an eviction action.
If I pay part of the rent during the five days, does the notice still count?
Your questions, answered
Get your rental issue moving toward a resolution.
Start with your situation. DocDraft will help you organize the relevant details, prepare documents, and take the next step.
- Personalized documents
- Clear next steps
- Attorney support available
