DeKalb, IL Municipal Code Ch. 10 Landlord-Tenant Regulations § 10.14

a) Security Deposits

   1. A Landlord who has received a security deposit from a Tenant to secure the payment of
      rent or to compensate for damage to the rental unit may not withhold any part of that
      deposit as compensation for property damage unless the Landlord has, within thirty (30)
      days of the date that the Tenant vacated the premises, furnished to the Tenant, delivered
      in person, by mail directed to the Tenant’s last known address, or by electronic mail, an
      itemized statement of the damage allegedly caused to the premises and the estimated or
      actual cost for repairing or replacing each item on that statement, attaching the paid
      receipts, or copies thereof, for the repair or replacement. If the Landlord utilizes his/her
      own labor to repair any damage caused by the Tenant, the Landlord may include the
      reasonable cost of his/her labor to repair such damage. If estimated cost is given, the
      Landlord shall furnish the Tenant with paid receipts, or copies thereof, within thirty (30)
      days from the date the statement showing estimated cost was furnished to the Tenant, as
      required by this Section. If no such statement and receipts, or copies thereof, are furnished
      to the Tenant as required by this Section, the Landlord shall return the security deposit in
      full within forty-five (45) days of the date that the Tenant vacated the premises in
      accordance with Security Deposit Return Act 765 ILCS 710/1; 710/1.1; 710/1.2; 710/2,
      Section 2.

   2. Upon a finding by a circuit court that a Landlord has refused to supply the itemized
      statement required by this Section, or has supplied such statement in bad faith, and has
      failed or refused to return the amount of the security deposit due within the time limits
      provided, the Landlord shall be liable for an amount equal to twice the amount of the
      security deposit due, together with court costs and reasonable attorney’s fees.

b) Rules and Regulations Regarding Rental Units:

   1. The Landlord, from time to time, may adopt general rules or regulations concerning the
      Tenant's use and occupancy of the premises. They are enforceable only if:

      (i) Their purpose is to promote the convenience, safety, or welfare of the Tenants in the
          premises, preserve the Landlord's property from abusive use or make a fair distribution
          of services and facilities among Tenants;

      (ii) They are reasonably related to the purpose for which they are adopted;

      (iii) They apply to all Tenants in the premises in a fair manner;

      (iv) They are sufficiently explicit to fairly inform Tenants of what they must or must not do
           to comply;

      (v) They are not for the purpose of evading the obligation of the Landlord; and

      (vi) They are attached to the rental agreement so that the Tenant has notice of them at
           the time the Tenant enters into the rental agreement.

   2. A rule or regulation adopted after the Tenant enters into the rental agreement that
      substantially modifies the lease agreement is not enforceable unless the Tenant consents
      to it or unless a change in local, state, or federal law requires the regulation change. The

term "substantially modifies" shall mean a change which significantly affects the use of the
       premises or its fair rental value.

c) Disclosure:

   1. The Landlord or any person authorized to enter into a rental agreement on his/her behalf
      shall disclose to the Tenant in writing on or before the commencement of the tenancy: the
      name, address, email and business and emergency telephone numbers of the Landlord
      and the property manager.

   2. A person entering into a rental agreement on behalf of a Landlord who fails to comply with
      subsection c1 of this section becomes an agent of each person who is a Landlord for:

       (i) Service of process and receiving of notices and demands; and

       (ii) Performing the obligations of the Landlord under this article and under the rental
            agreement.

   3. The information required to be furnished by subsection c1 of this section shall be kept
      current. Subsections c1 and c2 of this section extend to and are enforceable against any
      successor Landlord or property manager.

   4. Before a Tenant initially enters into or renews a rental agreement, the Landlord or any
      person authorized to enter into a rental agreement on the Landlord’s behalf shall disclose
      to the Tenant in writing any existing code violations which have been cited by the City for
      the rental unit. If the Landlord fails to comply with this subsection c4, the Tenant may
      confirm with the City Code Enforcement Division that the existing code violation has not
      been     resolved.     Existing    code     violation  information    is    available    at:
      www.cityofdekalb.com/1146/code-compliance. If the code violation has not been fixed and
      the unit is uninhabitable due to lack of heat or running water, gas leak, or dangerous
      structural issues, then a Tenant may consider the use of “constructive eviction” as grounds
      for lease termination.
d) Maintenance of Premises:

   1. The Landlord shall maintain the premises in substantial compliance with applicable codes
      of the City and shall promptly make any and all repairs necessary to fulfill this obligation.

   2. The Landlord and Tenant of any rental unit may agree that the Tenant is to perform
      specified repairs, maintenance tasks, alterations or remodeling only if:

       (i) The agreement of the parties is entered into in good faith and not for the purpose of
           evading the obligations of the Landlord or Tenant and is set forth in a separate writing
           signed by the parties and supported by adequate consideration; and

       (ii) The agreement does not diminish or affect the obligation of the Landlord to other
            Tenants in the premises.

e) Access to Rental Unit:

   1. The Landlord shall not abuse the right of access to the rental unit or use it to harass the
      Tenant. Except in cases of emergency, the Landlord shall give the Tenant at least twelve
      (12) hours’ notice of his or her intent to enter and if at all practical may enter the unit only
      between eight o'clock (8:00) a.m. and eight o'clock (8:00) p.m. The Landlord may enter a
      rental unit only for the following purposes:

(i) To conduct a necessary inspection of the premises,

        (ii) With the City during the investigation of a complaint of violations of this code,

        (iii) To make necessary or agreed repairs, decorations, alterations, or improvements,

        (iv) To supply necessary or agreed services,

        (v) To show the rental unit to prospective purchasers, mortgagees, Tenants, or workers;
            or

        (vi) To ensure the safety of the occupants of such rental unit, when accompanied by City
             police department or public safety personnel.

     2. The Landlord may enter the rental unit without consent of the Tenant in case of
        emergency. For purposes of this provision, the term "emergency" shall refer to a situation
        wherein access to the rental unit is necessary in order to prevent damage or destruction
        to the unit, or to the fixtures, equipment, appliances, furniture, and other personal property
        contained therein, or in order to protect any person from injury. Nonpayment or delinquent
        payment of rent shall not constitute an emergency.

     3. Nothing herein prohibits the parties from consenting to Landlord’s access at any time;
        provided, however, that such consent cannot be made a condition of renting a unit in any
        lease.

f)   Limitation On Liability: Unless otherwise agreed, a Landlord who sells the premises is relieved
     of liability under the rental agreement and this Chapter for events occurring subsequent to
     notice to the Tenant that the sale has occurred. However, Landlord remains liable to the
     Tenant for any property and money to which the Tenant is entitled, including security deposits
     unless the Tenant receives written notice that such property, money, and prepaid rent have
     been transferred to the buyer, and that the buyer has accepted liability for such property,
     money, and prepaid rent.

g) Receipts: Upon request of the Tenant, a Landlord must provide a written receipt for any
   payment made (i.e., rent, security deposits, etc.). If payment is made by personal check, the
   canceled check shall be considered a receipt.

h) Towing: All towing of vehicles shall be in accordance with property posted parking regulations.
   Towing of a Tenant’s vehicle due to nonpayment of rent shall be prohibited.