765 Ill. Comp. Stat. 721 § 5
Prohibition on retaliatory conduct by landlord. It is declared to be against public policy of the State for a landlord to take retaliatory action against a tenant. A landlord may not knowingly terminate a tenancy, increase rent, decrease services, bring or threaten to bring a lawsuit against a tenant for possession or refuse to renew a lease or tenancy because the tenant has in good faith done any of the following: (1) complained of code violations applicable to the premises to the relevant governmental agency, elected representative, or public official charged with responsibility for enforcement of a building, housing, health, or similar code; (2) complained of a building, housing, health, or similar code violation or an illegal landlord practice to a community organization; (3) sought the assistance of a community organization to remedy a code violation or illegal landlord practice; (4) complained or requested the landlord to make repairs to the premises as required by a building code, health ordinance, other regulation, or the residential rental agreement; (5) organized or become a member of a tenants' union or similar organization; (6) testified in any court or administrative proceeding concerning the condition of the premises; or (7) exercised any right or remedy provided by law
Operative Text
Prohibition on retaliatory conduct by landlord. It is declared to be against public policy of the State for a landlord to take retaliatory action against a tenant. A landlord may not knowingly terminate a tenancy, increase rent, decrease services, bring or threaten to bring a lawsuit against a tenant for possession or refuse to renew a lease or tenancy because the tenant has in good faith done any of the following: (1) complained of code violations applicable to the premises to the relevant governmental agency, elected representative, or public official charged with responsibility for enforcement of a building, housing, health, or similar code; (2) complained of a building, housing, health, or similar code violation or an illegal landlord practice to a community organization; (3) sought the assistance of a community organization to remedy a code violation or illegal landlord practice; (4) complained or requested the landlord to make repairs to the premises as required by a building code, health ordinance, other regulation, or the residential rental agreement; (5) organized or become a member of a tenants' union or similar organization; (6) testified in any court or administrative proceeding concerning the condition of the premises; or (7) exercised any right or remedy provided by law.
Under 765 Ill. Comp. Stat. 721, Illinois law treats landlord retaliation against tenants as contrary to state public policy. Specifically, a landlord is prohibited from knowingly terminating a tenancy, raising rent, reducing services, filing or threatening a lawsuit for possession, or refusing to renew a lease in response to a tenant's good-faith protected activities. Those protected activities include reporting code violations to government agencies, contacting community organizations, requesting repairs, joining a tenants' union, testifying in legal proceedings, or exercising any legal right or remedy.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators subject to 765 Ill. Comp. Stat. 721 generally document the independent, non-retaliatory business reasons behind any rent increases, lease non-renewals, service changes, or eviction proceedings. Compliant landlords maintain records showing that decisions affecting tenancy terms are driven by factors such as market conditions, lease expirations, or documented lease violations — not by a tenant's complaints, repair requests, or union membership. Keeping a clear paper trail of the timeline and rationale for any adverse tenancy action is a standard practice for demonstrating that conduct is unrelated to a tenant's protected activity.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
765 Ill. Comp. Stat. 721 gives Illinois tenants a legal shield against landlord actions — such as eviction, rent hikes, or service reductions — that are taken in response to good-faith protected conduct like reporting code violations, requesting repairs, or joining a tenants' union. If a landlord takes an adverse action shortly after a tenant engages in one of these protected activities, that timing may be relevant in a legal proceeding, and retaliation can be raised as a defense in an eviction or other court action. Tenants who believe they are experiencing retaliation may consider reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization or legal aid office to understand the range of options available under this statute.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 2, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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