Does Illinois Have Rent Increase Laws?
No, Illinois does not have any rent control laws in place. In fact, Illinois is one of the states with a pre-emptive law against rent control, meaning individual municipalities are prevented from enacting their own rent control laws. That means your landlord can raise the rent by as much as they want in Illinois.
Is There a Rent Increase Limit in Illinois?
No, Illinois has no rent increase limit because the local and state governments do not restrict how much landlords can charge. But if they do wish to increase the rent, the landlord must still provide reasonable notice and abide by the terms of the lease agreement.
So, in Illinois, rent prices are entirely governed by the market. That doesn’t mean landlords can simply charge whatever they want and you are forced to pay it. If you believe the rent increase is unreasonable, you can try to negotiate or find another place to live. However, the government is not involved in dictating how much landlords are allowed to charge or increase rent prices.
When Can Landlords Raise Rent in Illinois?
In Illinois, a landlord can raise the rent at the end of any lease term as long as they provide the proper written notice. The amount of notice depends on the type and length of the lease.
As long as they give you the proper time to respond, landlords are permitted to raise the rent as much as they see fit. But they can only raise it at the end of the term. So, if you have a yearlong lease, they can only increase it at the end of the year and give you the option to either accept the price and renew or look for other options.
How Much Notice Period is Required When Raising the Rent in Illinois?
Landlords are required to provide anywhere from one week to three months’ notice if they wish to raise the rent, depending on the conditions of the agreement. The following notice is required for the different lease terms:
- Week to week lease: 7 days
- Month-to-month lease: 30 days
- 1- or 2-year lease: 60 days
- 3+ year lease: 120 days
The notice is intended to give you adequate time to find new housing if you don’t wish to pay the new price. So read your lease carefully to determine the term and when the rent could go up.
Are There Any Cities in Illinois that Have Rent Control?
No cities in Illinois have rent control, including Chicago, due to the 1997 Illinois Rent Preemption Act, which prevents local governments from enacting their own laws. So, even if a city wanted to consider its own rent control, it would be shut down by the state.
Rent control is fairly controversial, and there is a debate about whether it benefits the housing market. Advocates claim it’s necessary to allow regular citizens access to housing, especially in areas where the cost of living is very high. But others say it disincentivizes real estate investment, which limits new construction and improvements to existing housing inventory.
Illinois has some of the most affordable home prices in the US, so state regulators must feel there is no reason to interfere with the market. Several attempts have been made to repeal the Rent Control Preemption Act and give greater power to cities like Chicago, where rent prices are on the rise. But so far, none of these attempts have been successful.
Illinois Rent Increase Laws Bottom Line
Illinois does not have statewide rent control, meaning landlords can raise prices as much as they see fit as long as they provide the proper notice and abide by any other terms within the lease agreement. Illinois is also one of the few states that not only do not have statewide rent control but also prevent local municipalities from creating their own laws. But, as a tenant, you always have the right to negotiate on your own behalf and look for better options if you feel the new rent is unreasonable.