765 Ill. Comp. Stat. 745 § 20
Gifts, Donations, Bonus, Gratuity, Etc
Operative Text
Gifts, Donations, Bonus, Gratuity, Etc. (a) Any park owner who, directly or indirectly, receives, collects or accepts from any person any donation, gratuity, bonus or gift, in addition to lawful charges, upon the representation that compliance with the request or demand will facilitate, influence or procure an advantage in entering into an agreement, either oral or written, for the lease or rental of real property, or contract of sale of a mobile home, or any park owner or his representative, who refuses to enter into such lease or contract of sale unless he receives, directly or indirectly, a donation, gratuity, bonus or gift, or any park owner or his representative who directly or indirectly aids, abets, requests or authorizes any other person to violate any provision of this Section, commits a violation of this Act. (b) Any person who pays such donation, gratuity, bonus or gift may recover twice its value, together with costs of the action, against any such person in violation of this Section.
Section 20 of 765 Ill. Comp. Stat. 745 prohibits mobile home park owners—and anyone acting on their behalf—from soliciting or accepting any payment beyond lawful charges (such as a gift, bonus, or gratuity) as a condition of, or advantage in, entering into a lease, rental agreement, or mobile home sale contract. The prohibition extends to indirect conduct and to anyone who aids or encourages such behavior. A person who does pay such an unlawful amount has a civil remedy to recover twice the amount paid, plus the costs of bringing the action.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 20 of the Illinois Mobile Home Landlord and Tenant Act (765 Ill. Comp. Stat. 745), compliant park operators limit all charges to those that are lawfully established and do not request, accept, or authorize any supplemental payment—whether framed as a gift, bonus, gratuity, or donation—in connection with leasing a lot or selling a mobile home. Operators also ensure that staff and agents understand that conditioning access to a lease or sale on any such payment is expressly prohibited. Maintaining clear, written records of all fees charged helps demonstrate that no unlawful extras were collected.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 20 of 765 Ill. Comp. Stat. 745 gives mobile home park residents and prospective residents a specific protection: a park owner cannot lawfully demand or accept any gift, bonus, gratuity, or donation—on top of standard charges—as a condition of renting a lot or purchasing a mobile home. If such a payment was made, the law provides a civil remedy allowing the payer to seek twice the value of that payment plus court costs from the party who violated this section. Tenants or prospective residents who believe this provision has been violated may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid office to understand the options available to them.
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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