Cal. Civ. Code § 4
The lessor, landlord or his agent shall not increase rent paid by the lessees or tenants of the building in order to collect all or part of the amount lawfully deducted for utility service pursuant to this Act
Operative Text
The lessor, landlord or his agent shall not increase rent paid by the lessees or tenants of the building in order to collect all or part of the amount lawfully deducted for utility service pursuant to this Act.
Under 765 Ill. Comp. Stat. 735 § 4, a landlord or their agent is prohibited from raising tenants' rent as a way to recoup money that was lawfully withheld from the landlord's utility payments under this Act. In other words, if a utility provider has made a lawful deduction from what the landlord receives for utility service, the landlord cannot pass that cost back to tenants through a rent increase. This rule preserves the financial protection the Act extends to tenants by closing off an indirect workaround.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to 765 Ill. Comp. Stat. 735 § 4 generally ensure that any rent adjustments they implement are grounded in legitimate, independent factors rather than in recovering amounts deducted from utility service payments under this Act. Compliant operators maintain clear documentation showing that rent changes are unrelated to utility deductions, which helps demonstrate good-faith adherence to the statute. Reviewing rent-setting practices with a qualified real estate attorney familiar with Illinois landlord-tenant law is a common step operators take when utility billing arrangements change.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
765 Ill. Comp. Stat. 735 § 4 gives tenants a basis to challenge a rent increase if they have reason to believe it was imposed to recover amounts their landlord lost through a lawful utility-service deduction under this Act. Tenants who suspect such a violation may document the timing and stated reasons for any rent increase relative to known utility deductions, and can explore options such as raising the violation as a defense in a rent-related proceeding. Local tenant-rights organizations in Illinois can help tenants understand what records to gather and what complaint or legal avenues may be available.
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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