Landlord & tenant · Illinois

Can I sue for a landlord keeping my deposit in Illinois?

the short answer

Your landlord has 30 days to give you an itemized statement of the damage and what each item cost to put right. That cost is allowed to be an estimate, and where it is, the paid receipts follow within 30 days of the statement. Without any statement at all, the full deposit is due back within 45 days. A landlord who withholds the statement or writes it in bad faith, and also keeps money past the deadline, can be ordered to pay twice what was due, plus court costs and reasonable attorney's fees.

source ↗Not yet checked against the statute.

Which law covers security deposits in Illinois?

governing statute

765 ILCS 710/1

source ↗Checked against the statute on 2026-08-19

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Illinois?

deadline

30 days

source ↗Checked against the statute on 2026-08-19

Across the country. 23 of the 47 states written up answer this the same way as Illinois. The shortest is 14 days, as in Alaska; the longest is 60 days, as in Alabama. Compare every state →

What is the penalty if a landlord keeps your deposit in Illinois?

penalty

Twice the amount of the security deposit due, plus court costs and reasonable attorney's fees — but a circuit court has to find both halves of § 1(c): that the landlord refused the itemized statement or supplied it in bad faith, and that the landlord also failed or refused to return what was due inside the deadline. With no statement in 30 days, the full deposit is due back within 45.

source ↗Not yet checked against the statute.

How much can you sue for in Illinois small claims court?

small claims limit

$10,000

source ↗Not yet checked against the statute.

What else should you know in Illinois?

also

Give the landlord a mailing address, or an email address you verified with them. Section 1(a) says a landlord is not liable for any damages or penalties that follow from a tenant failing to provide one, so that address is what keeps the double-deposit claim alive.

source ↗Not yet checked against the statute.

your situation

That is the rule. Whether it is your answer is a different question.

Everything above is the law as it reaches everyone in Illinois. What it means for you turns on facts only you have. Tell us what happened and we'll ask the same questions a lawyer would — about 90 seconds, free, and anonymous.

This is legal information, not legal advice. Written by an AI model, which can be wrong. Not a lawyer, and not a prediction about your case. Terms · Privacy

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