An Illinois Rental Application simplifies the applicant screening process so you can attract the most qualified and trustworthy tenants for your lease agreement.
Laws
- Application Fee – Non-refundable
- Fee Limits – No limits (no statute)
- Security Deposit – No limits (no statute)
Application Fees
Landlords can charge any amount for non-refundable application fees, as there’s no state-imposed cap. These fees cover administrative costs such as background checks, although some cities may regulate them. The charge is non-refundable regardless of the amount.
Fair Housing Protections
An owner, broker, or anyone involved in a real estate transaction commits a civil rights violation if they discriminate unlawfully or based on familial status [1] :
- Real Estate Transactions: It’s illegal to refuse a transaction, change its terms, or discriminate based on discrimination or familial status.
- Engagement: Can’t refuse to do business or discriminate in transactions.
- Terms Alteration: Changing terms or conditions unfairly is prohibited.
- Offer Handling: Must not refuse or ignore legitimate offers.
- Negotiation: Cannot refuse to negotiate fairly with interested parties.
- Property Availability: Misrepresenting availability of property for inspection or purchase/rental is illegal.
- Advertisements: Publishing or indicating any preference or discrimination in ads, applications, or during transactions is unlawful.
- Listings: Illegal to handle property listings with the intent to discriminate.
Security Deposits
In Illinois, the law doesn’t set a cap on security deposit amounts, often equating to one month’s rent.
Landlords, especially those with rentals of 25 units or more and holding deposits for six months, must put the deposits in an FDIC-insured account and pay interest to the tenant annually or credit it towards rent [2] .
They are also required to return the security deposit within 45 days of tenancy termination or provide a written statement within 30 days detailing the reasons for deductions if any portion is withheld [3] .
Pet Deposits
Illinois allows property owners to collect a separate pet deposit, except for service and assistance animals. Landlords cannot deny an applicant with a disability the right to own an assistance pet. Housing providers can also not deny an application solely because of the animal’s breed.
Sample
