Cal. Civ. Code § 2
Unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices, including but not limited to the use or employment of any deception fraud, false pretense, false promise, misrepresentation or the concealment, suppression or omission of any material fact, with intent that others rely upon the concealment, suppression or omission of such material fact, or the use or employment of any practice described in Section 2 of the "Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act", approved August 5, 1965, in the conduct of any trade or commerce are hereby declared unlawful whether any person has in fact been misled, deceived or damaged thereby. In construing this section consideration shall be given to the interpretations of the Federal Trade Commission and the federal courts relating to Section 5
Operative Text
Unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices, including but not limited to the use or employment of any deception fraud, false pretense, false promise, misrepresentation or the concealment, suppression or omission of any material fact, with intent that others rely upon the concealment, suppression or omission of such material fact, or the use or employment of any practice described in Section 2 of the "Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act", approved August 5, 1965, in the conduct of any trade or commerce are hereby declared unlawful whether any person has in fact been misled, deceived or damaged thereby. In construing this section consideration shall be given to the interpretations of the Federal Trade Commission and the federal courts relating to Section 5 (a) of the Federal Trade Commission Act.
Under 815 Ill. Comp. Stat. 505 § 2, unfair or deceptive acts and practices in trade or commerce are prohibited in Illinois — this includes fraud, misrepresentation, false promises, and the deliberate hiding or omission of material facts intended to influence others. Notably, the law applies even if no one was actually misled or harmed by the conduct. Courts and regulators interpreting this provision look to how the Federal Trade Commission and federal courts have applied Section 5(a) of the Federal Trade Commission Act as a guiding framework.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating in Illinois should be aware that 815 Ill. Comp. Stat. 505 § 2 broadly prohibits deceptive or unfair conduct in any trade or commerce context, including rental housing transactions. Compliant operators generally ensure that all material facts about a rental unit — such as fees, conditions, lease terms, and known defects — are disclosed accurately and completely to prospective and current tenants. Because the statute does not require proof of actual harm to establish a violation, even unintentional omissions of material information can potentially fall within its scope.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants in Illinois may have protections under 815 Ill. Comp. Stat. 505 § 2 if a landlord engaged in deceptive practices, made false promises, or withheld material facts during a rental transaction — regardless of whether actual financial harm resulted. This provision is part of the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, and complaints may be directed to the Illinois Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division. Tenants may also explore raising a violation of this statute as a defense or counterclaim in relevant legal proceedings, or consult a tenant-rights organization for general information about available enforcement paths.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 18, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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