This Article is the second in a series about new real estate related laws in Illinois, effective in 2025. There are good landlords, and there are bad landlords. The worst of the bad landlords can make life miserable for tenants. Pushed against a wall, tenants might complain to the authorities or try to exercise their rights in some other way. The Illinois Legislature has passed Public Act 103-0831, effective January 1, 2025, to prohibit landlord retaliation. If a landlord violates the new law and sues the tenant, the tenant will have a viable defense and can go after the landlord for damages. The tenant could terminate the lease and demand a return of the security deposit with interest, plus any prepaid rent. If the landlord has tossed the tenant out of the unit or threatened to throw him out, the tenant can recover possession of the unit. The tenant may… read more →
Illinois law makers passed over a whopping 300 new laws that have recently taken effect or will take effect in 2024. Are you a residential landlord or a residential tenant? Are you looking to get into the residential leasing business? Here are a few of the changes that may interest you. 1. The Illinois Human Rights Act already protects individuals in various situations from discrimination based on religion, race, ancestry, sex, color, disability and a host of other reasons. Effective January 1, 2024, immigration status has been added to the list of protected classes. If you are a landlord, you cannot deny a tenant solely because of their immigration status, whether it is their actual immigration status or what you perceive their immigration status to be. There has been a flood of refugees and undocumented immigrants coming into the Chicago area in recent years. This change will make it a… read more →