Landlords (owners of the building or someone working for them to rent residences) are required under Illinois law to give this summary to all Illinois housing tenants as the first page of their written lease, whether the lease is new or a renewal. Access, download, or translate this summary on the Illinois Department of Human Rights website at
dhr.illinois.gov/safer-homes.

If you or a member of your household are a survivor of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, you have special rights relating to your housing to make you safer.

1)    Under the Illinois Safe Homes Act, you have the right to end your lease early and not pay future rent when you move from your rental place because of a threat of domestic violence or sexual violence.

• To end your lease early, you must give written notice that you are leaving to your landlord before or within three days of permanently leaving (for example, by removing all of your belongings and turning over your keys to the landlord or property manager) or have left your rental place because you are under an imminent threat of domestic violence or sexual violence there. You can also end your lease early by written notice and documentation because sexual violence occurred at your rental place within the last 60 days or later, if circumstances prevented you from telling the landlord sooner.

• You are responsible for paying rent for the period prior to providing written notice and then permanently leaving, but you are not responsible for future rent after that and cannot be charged an “early lease break fee.” Your landlord should also return your security deposit if there is no previous unpaid rent or damage to your rental place beyond normal wear and tear.

2)    You also have the right to change your locks to prevent further domestic violence or sexual violence at your rental place.

• To exercise this right, you need to provide written notice to the landlord that you are under an imminent threat of domestic or sexual violence; the landlord must change or give you permission to change the locks within 48 hours of your notice, at your reasonable expense. If your landlord does not change the locks within 48 hours, you can change the locks and give your landlord the new key within 48 hours.

3)    Your landlord will be liable to you for your actual damages up to $2,000 and reasonable attorney’s fees if they disclose to a prospective landlord that you used the Safe Homes Act or share any information you provided when using the Safe Homes Act.

Learn more about the Safe Homes Act (765 ILCS 750) from Illinois Legal Aid at ilao.info/dvleases

4)    If your landlord tries to evict you, and the eviction is based upon you or a household member experiencing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, you may be able to stop the eviction.

You cannot be evicted solely because:

• You or your household members are a victim of an actual incident of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking
• You or your household members received threats of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking
• Criminal activity in the form of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual violence, or stalking against you or a member of your household
• You did not knowingly consent to a person entering your rental place that the landlord had barred, or if the barred person is permitted by court order to enter your rental place

When asserting any of these defenses to eviction you must provide at least one form of evidence of your status (such as medical, court or police records, or a statement from a victim services organization that you sought help from).

The landlord may still be able to evict you if they prove that your continued presence in your rental place poses an actual and imminent threat to others there.

It is recommended that you seek legal assistance if facing an eviction action.

5)    A landlord cannot discriminate against you under the Illinois Human Rights Act because you have an order of protection, a stalking no contact order, or a civil no contact order.

The Illinois Human Rights Act protects against discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in housing based on certain protected categories. A housing provider cannot refuse to rent to you, refuse to make repairs, or charge you additional fees because you have protections under any of the above court orders. Possible remedies include your actual damages and attorney’s fees. If you are using a federal housing subsidy, you have additional protections under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) (42 U.S.C. Ch. 136, Subchapter III), which prevents housing providers from denying housing due to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

You can file a charge of housing discrimination with the Illinois Department of Human Rights within one year after the discrimination occurred or with the appropriate circuit court not later than two years from the date of the last discrimination.

For more information on filing a charge of housing discrimination under the Illinois Human Rights Act, visit dhr.illinois.gov/filing-a-charge/housing

6)    Illinois prohibits counties and municipalities from creating or enforcing laws that penalize tenants who are survivors of domestic violence or sexual violence when they (or their landlord) contact police or other emergency services to prevent or respond to this conduct.

Illinois does not allow counties or municipalities to create or enforce laws that penalize tenants for:

1. Calling the police or emergency services to prevent or respond to domestic violence or sexual violence;
2. Incidents of domestic or sexual violence against a tenant, their household member, or guest at your rental place; or
3. Criminal activity at your rental place that is related to domestic violence or sexual violence.

If you are penalized by being evicted, terminated from your housing, or otherwise assessed fees or fines, you may file a complaint in circuit court under Section 1-2-1.5 of the Illinois Municipal Code (65 ILCS 5) & Section 5-1005.10 of the Illinois Counties Code (55 ILCS 5)

7)    Utility companies are required to defer the initial credit and deposit requirements for a period of 60 days for a residential customer or applicant who is a victim of domestic violence

To exercise this right under Section 8-201.6 of the Public Utilities Act (220 ILCS 5/8-201), provide evidence of the domestic violence from an order of protection, a certifying letter from a medical provider or domestic violence shelter, or law enforcement personnel.

8)    Please note that if you apply for or reside in federally subsidized housing there are additional housing rights under the Federal Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) relating to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.

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Ascend Justice – Legal aid organization that provides free legal representation to survivors of gender-based violence who need to break their lease or change their locks under the Safe Homes Act. Go to ascendjustice.org/finances-housing

CARPLS – Legal hotline helps low and moderate-income residents of Cook County with free legal advice and referrals to legal organizations. CARPLS provides assistance to tenants facing eviction; helps survivors with Safe Homes Act letters; and covers private and all types of subsidized housing.

• Go to carpls.org/services/cook-county-hotline
• CARPLS Legal Hotline: (312) 738-9200

Cook County Legal Aid for Housing and Debt Hotline - Provides free legal assistance for tenants facing eviction in Cook County.

• (855) 956-5763.

Eviction Help Illinois – Provides free legal help for Illinois residents facing an eviction.  

• Go to evictionhelpillinois.org
   

Illinois Legal Aid Online – Provides free legal information and resources in English and Spanish, including easy legal forms, sample letters and referrals to legal aid organizations.  

• Go to illinoislegalaid.org

Land of Lincoln Legal Aid – Legal aid organization that provides free legal representation to survivors under the Safe Homes Act and has an eviction hotline. Land of Lincoln Legal Aid has five offices and four satellite offices that serve 65 counties throughout central and southern Illinois.  

• Go to lincolnlegal.org/apply-for-legal-services

• Eviction Hotline: (855) 601-9474 

• Other housing issues, call Legal Advice and Referral Center: (618) 394-7300 

 
Legal Aid Chicago – Legal aid organization that provides free legal representation for low-income renters in Chicago and suburban Cook County. Legal Aid Chicago has a Fair Housing Project and is a HUD enforcement agency. Legal Aid Chicago provides assistance with housing issues including: subsidized housing; breaking a lease or changing locks under the Safe Homes Act; and eviction defense.

• legalaidchicago.org/get-help
• Fair Housing Intake Line: (312) 423-5909

Life Span – Legal aid organization that provides free legal services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault who need to break their lease or change their locks under the Safe Homes Act. Life Span provides services to survivors in Chicago and suburban Cook County.

• Go to life-span.org/get-help
• Legal assistance: (312) 408-1210

North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic – Legal aid organization that provides free legal representation for low-income renters in Lake County and north suburban Cook County who are facing eviction, need to break a lease under the Safe Homes Act, or have other landlord/tenant issues. Go to nslegalaid.org/get-help/housing

Prairie State Legal Services – Provides free legal assistance to survivors under the Safe Homes Act. Prairie State Legal Services has 11 offices located in Bloomington, Galesburg, Joliet, Kankakee, Moline, Ottawa, Peoria, Rockford, Waukegan, West Suburban (West Chicago) and Woodstock.

• Go to pslegal.org/How-To-Get-Started
• Domestic Violence Line: (844) 388-7757

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