765 Ill. Comp. Stat. 742 § 5
Repair; deduction from rent. If a repair is required under a residential lease agreement or required under a law, administrative rule, or local ordinance or regulation, and the reasonable cost of the repair does not exceed the lesser of $500 or one-half of the monthly rent, the tenant may notify the landlord in writing by registered or certified mail or other restricted delivery service to the address of the landlord or an agent of the landlord as indicated on the lease agreement; if an address is not listed, the tenant may send notice to the landlord's last known address of the tenant's intention to have the repair made at the landlord's expense. If the landlord fails to make the repair within 14 days after being notified by the tenant as provided above or more promptly as conditions require in the case of an emergency, the tenant may have the repair made in a workmanlike manner and in compliance with the appropriate law, administrative rule, or local ordinance or regulation. Emergencies include conditions that will cause irreparable harm to the apartment or any fixture attached to the apartment if not immediately repaired or any condition that poses an immediate threat to the health or safety of any occupant of the dwelling or any common area. After submitting to the landlord a paid bill from an appropriate tradesman or supplier unrelated to the tenant, the tenant may deduct from his or her rent the amount of the bill, not to exceed the limits specified by this Section and not to exceed the reasonable price then customarily charged for the repair. If not clearly indicated on the bill submitted by the tenant, the tenant shall also provide to the landlord in writing, at the time of the submission of the bill, the name, address, and telephone number for the tradesman or supplier that provided the repair services. A tenant may not repair at the landlord's expense if the condition was caused by the deliberate or negligent act or omission of the tenant, a member of the tenant's family, or another person on the premises with the tenant's consent
Operative Text
Repair; deduction from rent. If a repair is required under a residential lease agreement or required under a law, administrative rule, or local ordinance or regulation, and the reasonable cost of the repair does not exceed the lesser of $500 or one-half of the monthly rent, the tenant may notify the landlord in writing by registered or certified mail or other restricted delivery service to the address of the landlord or an agent of the landlord as indicated on the lease agreement; if an address is not listed, the tenant may send notice to the landlord's last known address of the tenant's intention to have the repair made at the landlord's expense. If the landlord fails to make the repair within 14 days after being notified by the tenant as provided above or more promptly as conditions require in the case of an emergency, the tenant may have the repair made in a workmanlike manner and in compliance with the appropriate law, administrative rule, or local ordinance or regulation. Emergencies include conditions that will cause irreparable harm to the apartment or any fixture attached to the apartment if not immediately repaired or any condition that poses an immediate threat to the health or safety of any occupant of the dwelling or any common area. After submitting to the landlord a paid bill from an appropriate tradesman or supplier unrelated to the tenant, the tenant may deduct from his or her rent the amount of the bill, not to exceed the limits specified by this Section and not to exceed the reasonable price then customarily charged for the repair. If not clearly indicated on the bill submitted by the tenant, the tenant shall also provide to the landlord in writing, at the time of the submission of the bill, the name, address, and telephone number for the tradesman or supplier that provided the repair services. A tenant may not repair at the landlord's expense if the condition was caused by the deliberate or negligent act or omission of the tenant, a member of the tenant's family, or another person on the premises with the tenant's consent.
Under 765 Ill. Comp. Stat. 742, when a repair is legally required under a lease, law, or local ordinance and its cost falls within the statute's dollar cap (the lesser of $500 or half the monthly rent), a tenant may trigger a formal process by sending written notice to the landlord via registered or certified mail. If the landlord does not complete the repair within 14 days—or sooner in an emergency—the tenant may hire an unrelated tradesperson to do the work and then deduct the paid bill from rent. This right does not apply when the tenant, a household member, or a guest caused the condition through deliberate or negligent conduct.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under 765 Ill. Comp. Stat. 742 generally respond to written repair notices promptly—within 14 days for standard repairs and more quickly when an emergency exists—to avoid a tenant's right to hire outside contractors and deduct costs from rent. Compliant operators keep a current mailing address on file in the lease so that statutory notice reaches them without delay, and they document completed repairs to establish a clear record. When a tenant submits a paid tradesperson's bill, landlords typically review it for compliance with the statute's cost caps and verify that the condition was not caused by the tenant or someone in the tenant's household.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
765 Ill. Comp. Stat. 742 gives Illinois residential tenants a mechanism to address legally required repairs by first sending written notice—via registered or certified mail—to the landlord's address as listed on the lease. If the landlord does not act within 14 days (or immediately in an emergency involving health, safety, or irreparable harm), a tenant may hire an unrelated, qualified tradesperson, pay the bill, and deduct that amount from rent up to the statute's cap. Tenants who believe this right applies to their situation may find it useful to consult a local tenant-rights organization or legal aid office for general information about how the process works under Illinois law.
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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