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The Act prohibits discrimination in the sales or rental of residential or commercial property. A few examples of housing discrimination are: misrepresenting that property is not available for rental or sale; steering to rent or purchase a housing unit in locations other than the customer's preferred area; altering the terms, conditions or privileges of the transaction; refusing to receive or transmit a bona fide offer to rent or purchase; and refusing to negotiate.
Housing Rights
If you think you have experienced housing discrimination, this page explains your rights and how to file a charge.
What you will find here:
Real examples of discrimination, your legal protections, how to file a charge, and who the law covers.
⏱ Reading time: 11 minutes
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Table of contents
Learn What Discrimination Looks Like
See situations that might match yours.
Do You Want to File a Charge?
Learn how to file and whether now is the right time to do it.
Your Rights in Housing
Know what protections you have.
Who the Law Covers
Find out which housing providers need to follow the law.
What IDHR Cannot Do
Understand our limits so you know what to expect.
Housing Rights FAQs
Find answers to common questions.
Learn What Discrimination Looks Like
Illinois law prohibits housing discrimination based on parts of who you are - called “protected characteristics.”
Race · Color · Ancestry · National Origin · Disability (physical and mental) · Religion · Sex · Sexual Orientation (including gender identity) · Age (40 and over) · Marital Status · Pregnancy (including childbirth or related medical conditions) · Military Status · Unfavorable Military Discharge · Order of Protection Status · Arrest Record
Discrimination examples
Discrimination is not always obvious. Sometimes it happens in ways that are hard to spot. These real-world examples can help you identify whether you have experienced unlawful treatment.
Refused an application or showing
A landlord refuses to show you an apartment or accept your application after learning you have children, use a housing voucher, or have a disability.
Discriminatory advertising
You see rental ads that say "no children," "Section 8 not accepted," or "English speakers only."
Different terms or conditions
You are charged a higher security deposit, higher rent, or additional fees that others do not pay. Or your landlord enforces rules against you (like guest policies or parking) but not against other tenants.
Denied reasonable accommodation
You request reasonable accommodation for your disability—like permission to have a service animal despite a no-pets policy, or installation of grab bars in your bathroom—and your landlord refuses without good reason or won’t talk about it.
Harassment or hostile environment
Your landlord makes unwelcome sexual advances or comments, or creates a hostile living environment based on your race, religion, or another protected characteristic.
Retaliation for asserting rights
After you complain about discrimination or assert your tenant rights, your landlord retaliates by raising your rent, refusing to renew your lease, filing for eviction, or making your living conditions worse.
Do You Want to File a Charge?
If you believe you've experienced housing discrimination, you have options. Filing a charge with IDHR starts an investigation into your complaint. Here's what you need to know.
Before you file:
- You must file within a specific timeframe
- You can file even if you no longer live there
- Filing is free
- You do not need a lawyer
- You can file against landlords, property owners, management companies, or real estate professionals
What happens when you file:
We review your claim to see if it falls under the Illinois Human Rights Act
If accepted, we investigate by gathering information from all parties
We may attempt to resolve the matter through mediation or settlement
If not resolved, your case may proceed to a hearing
We will draft a charge for your signature if:
- Your allegations are covered under the Act
- We have jurisdiction over the housing provider
- You file within the required timeframe
Information you need when filing a charge
- As much information as possible about the housing provider(s), including the name(s) of the owner, manager, salesperson or other persons involved
- The address and size of the property being sold or rented
- Names, addresses, and phone numbers of any other persons who may be witnesses
- Copies of newspaper advertisement, listing, or vacancy sheet; as well as any other documents related to the problem
Your Rights in Housing
Under Illinois law, landlords, property owners, real estate agents, and housing providers cannot treat you unlawfully because of a protected characteristic or basis for discrimination.
It's unlawful to discriminate in:
- Advertising and marketing
- Showing properties
- Applications and screening
- Lease terms and rental rates
- Sales prices and mortgage lending
- Property insurance
- Evictions
- Maintenance and services
- Refusing to make reasonable accommodations or modifications
- And more..
Housing providers cannot:
- Discriminate in housing ads and listings, or make statements about preferences or limitations
- Falsely tell you that housing is unavailable, refuse to show units, or steer to certain areas
- Use different application requirements, discriminatory screening criteria, or refuse to accept housing vouchers or other lawful sources of income
- Charge different rent, deposits, fees, lease terms, or apply other unique rules based on protected characteristics
- Refuse reasonable requests for disability accommodations or modifications
- Provide different levels of maintenance, repairs, or services
- Use discriminatory eviction practices or lease non-renewals
- Create a hostile living environment by retaliating against tenants who assert their rights
Who the Law Covers
The law applies to:
- Landlords and property owners
Property management companies
Real estate agents and brokers
Mortgage lenders and financial institutions
Homeowners associations
Anyone involved in the sale, rental, or financing of housing
Types of housing covered:
- Rental apartments and houses
Homes for sale
Condominiums and cooperatives
Mobile home parks
Temporary and transitional housing
Student housing
Important note about exemptions: Some very small properties where the owner lives in the building may be exempt from certain provisions, though discrimination is still generally prohibited.
Special Protections: Safe Homes Act
If you are a survivor of domestic violence, sexual violence, or stalking, you have additional protections under the Safe Homes Act.
Key protections include the right to:
- Request early lease termination without penalty in certain circumstances
- Have locks changed for your safety
- Have police reports or orders of protection considered as evidence of your situation
- Be protected from eviction based solely on being a victim of violence
What IDHR Cannot Do
We want to be clear about what falls outside our jurisdiction so you can find the right help.
We cannot investigate:
Landlord-tenant disputes not based on discrimination – General disputes about repairs, maintenance, rent payment, security deposit returns, or lease violations that are not connected to a protected characteristic should be directed to local tenant rights organizations or legal aid.
Evictions for legitimate, non-discriminatory reasons – If the eviction is based on non-payment of rent, lease violations, or property damage and not related to a protected characteristic, IDHR may not have jurisdiction.
Rent control or rent increase limits – Illinois does not have statewide rent control, and IDHR cannot regulate rent amounts unless discrimination is involved.
Housing code violations – Issues like lack of heat, pest infestations, or building code violations should be reported to your local building or health department.
Disputes between roommates – IDHR handles discrimination by housing providers, not disputes between co-tenants.
Contract disputes – General disagreements about lease terms or contract interpretation may require consultation with an attorney.
Cases outside our legal authority –
If we cannot investigate your situation, that does not mean what happened was okay. It means your case may fall under a different law or agency. We will do our best to point you in the right direction.
Housing Rights (Fair Housing) - FAQs
The Illinois Human Rights Act and the federal Fair Housing Act apply to real estate owners, managers, salespersons, brokers, rental agents, or other agents or employees of the owner or the owner's agents. Also, builders and appraisers are subject to the fair housing law. In addition to persons involved in real estate transactions, advertisers (newspapers and other publications that disseminate discriminatory advertising) and mortgage lenders (banks and loan brokers) can also be charged with discrimination under the Illinois Human Rights Act.
Yes. The Act prohibits the following activities in real estate transactions against people with disabilities: Refusing to rent or sell to people with disabilities; Discriminating in sale or rental terms and conditions of privileges of people with disabilities; Refusal of rental or sale to blind, hearing impaired or persons who use guide, hearing or support dogs; Requiring extra charges for the use of guide, hearing or support dogs other than for actual damages caused by such animals; Refusing to allow reasonable modifications of premises occupied by disabled persons made at those person's own expense; Failure to make reasonable accommodations in the rules, policies, practices and services of a multi-family residential development to afford persons with disabilities equal opportunity and housing enjoyment.
Guidance & Publications
- IDHR Fair Housing Poster
Current fair housing poster - Summary of Rights for Safer Homes Act
Protections for survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, and stalking; landlords must provide to tenants - Reasonable Accommodations Guide
Comprehensive multi-section guide for housing professionals on disability accommodations
Related Topics
Public Accommodations
Your right to equal access in stores, services, restaurants, facilities, public restrooms, and other public spaces.
Disabilities
Requirements for reasonable accommodations and equal access in workplaces, housing, public spaces, and services.