Free Illinois lease review checked against state law.
Upload your Illinois apartment, house or room lease. We compare every clause with 32 Illinois laws, and tie each flag to the statute behind it.
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In about two minutes you’ll see how many clauses work against you, how serious each one is, and what they could cost you over 12 months. No login, and your file is deleted after the analysis.
What a Illinois lease can’t include
Illinois sets no statewide deposit cap, but it voids clauses excusing a landlord’s negligence, protects your right to a jury in an eviction, and bans autopay-only rent. New fee limits take effect for leases signed from January 1, 2027.
- Excusing the landlord’s own negligence765 ILCS 705/1
- Waiving a jury in an eviction case735 ILCS 5/9-108
- Rent only by autopay765 ILCS 705/4
- A fee-charging portal with no free way to pay765 ILCS 705/3.5
- A non-refundable deposit or fixed fees for normal wear765 ILCS 710/1
- Owing all remaining rent if you leave early735 ILCS 5/9-213.1
- Holding a domestic-violence survivor to the full lease765 ILCS 750/15
- Penalties for complaining or requesting repairs765 ILCS 721/5
- Paying for a meter that also serves other units765 ILCS 735/1.2
Legal in Illinois, even if it feels unfair
We flag what the law prohibits, not everything that’s inconvenient. These terms are lawful in Illinois, so the report won’t call them illegal:
A deposit larger than one month’s rent
No Illinois statute caps residential deposits. The itemization deadlines and double-damages penalty apply to a deposit of any size.
765 ILCS 710/1
An application fee, for now
Illinois has no general cap on application fees today. For leases signed on or after January 1, 2027, application fees over $50 (unless the actual check costs more), renewal fees, eviction-notice fees and move-in or move-out walk-through fees are banned, and every required fee must appear on the lease’s first page. Owner-occupied buildings with six or fewer units are exempt.
765 ILCS 705/35
Everything we check in a Illinois lease
Every rule below comes from official Illinois or federal government text and was reviewed before it went live. Each citation links to that text.
Security deposits
Deposit limit
Return deadline
What can be deducted
Penalties for wrongful withholding
How the deposit is held
Rent, fees and charges
Payment methods and convenience fees
Rent receipts
Application and screening fees
Rent control and stabilization
Who pays utilities
Submetering and shared meters
Clauses the law voids
Clauses excusing the landlord’s own negligence
Clauses that waive tenant rights
Disclosures the lease must include
Repairs, safety and living conditions
Repair and deduct
Heat and hot water
State lead-paint law
Federal lead-paint disclosure
Entry and privacy
Lock changes for survivors
Eviction, lockouts and ending a lease
Utility shutoffs
Retaliation
When retaliation is presumed
Notice to quit
Early termination rights
Grounds for eviction
Landlord’s duty to re-rent
Military and senior early termination
Roommates and subletting
Subletting and assignment
Discrimination and fair housing
Domestic-violence survivors
Protected classes
Vouchers and source of income
Families with children
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Age
Disability accommodations
Assistance animals
Not covered yet: Chicago’s Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance and Cook County’s ordinance add protections beyond state law. Our scan doesn’t apply those local rules yet, so a Chicago lease is checked against Illinois state law only.
Illinois renter guides
Questions about Illinois lease reviews
Is the Illinois lease review free?
Yes. Upload your lease with no login and in about two minutes you’ll see how many clauses work against you, how serious each one is, and one flagged clause in full. The complete report and Action Kit are a one-time $8.99.
Which Illinois laws does LeasePatrol check?
32 Illinois statutes and regulations covering deposits, fees, repairs, entry, eviction and discrimination, plus the federal fair housing and lead-paint rules. The full list is on this page, each linked to the official text.
Is anything in Illinois not covered?
Chicago’s Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance and Cook County’s ordinance add protections beyond state law. Our scan doesn’t apply those local rules yet, so a Chicago lease is checked against Illinois state law only.
Is this legal advice?
No. LeasePatrol is a software tool that compares your lease with the law and explains what it finds. If you’re facing an eviction or a lawsuit, talk to a tenant lawyer or your local legal aid office.
LeasePatrol provides rental law information, not legal advice, and is not a law firm.