765 Ill. Comp. Stat. 755 § 5
Definitions. In this Act: "Dwelling unit" means a room or suite of rooms, a manufactured home rental unit or lot as defined in Section 3 of the Mobile Home Landlord and Tenant Rights Act, or other residential real estate used for human habitation, and for which a landlord and a tenant have a written or oral lease agreement. "Immigration or citizenship status" includes a person's actual or perceived immigration status or citizenship status. "Landlord" means the owner, agent, lessor, or sublessor, or the successor in interest of any of them, of a dwelling unit, or the building of which it is part, and any person authorized to exercise any aspect of the management of the premises, including any person who directly or indirectly receives rents and has no obligation to deliver the whole of the receipts to another person. "Landlord" includes the owner of a mobile home park. "Tenant" means a person entitled by written or oral agreement, subtenancy approved by the landlord or by sufferance, or law to occupy a dwelling unit to the exclusion of others
Operative Text
Definitions. In this Act: "Dwelling unit" means a room or suite of rooms, a manufactured home rental unit or lot as defined in Section 3 of the Mobile Home Landlord and Tenant Rights Act, or other residential real estate used for human habitation, and for which a landlord and a tenant have a written or oral lease agreement. "Immigration or citizenship status" includes a person's actual or perceived immigration status or citizenship status. "Landlord" means the owner, agent, lessor, or sublessor, or the successor in interest of any of them, of a dwelling unit, or the building of which it is part, and any person authorized to exercise any aspect of the management of the premises, including any person who directly or indirectly receives rents and has no obligation to deliver the whole of the receipts to another person. "Landlord" includes the owner of a mobile home park. "Tenant" means a person entitled by written or oral agreement, subtenancy approved by the landlord or by sufferance, or law to occupy a dwelling unit to the exclusion of others.
Section 765 Ill. Comp. Stat. 755 establishes the foundational definitions that govern how the Act applies to housing relationships in Illinois. The term 'dwelling unit' covers a broad range of residential spaces—from individual rooms to manufactured home lots—as long as a lease agreement (written or oral) exists between a landlord and tenant. Notably, 'landlord' is defined broadly to include not just property owners but also agents, managers, and anyone who collects rent, while 'immigration or citizenship status' encompasses both actual and perceived status, signaling the Act's intent to protect residents regardless of documentation.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under 765 Ill. Comp. Stat. 755 should be aware that the Act's definition of 'landlord' is intentionally broad—anyone who collects rent or exercises management authority over a dwelling unit may be considered a landlord under this statute, including agents and sublessors. Compliant operators generally apply the Act's protections uniformly across all tenants, recognizing that the definition of 'tenant' includes those occupying a unit by oral agreement or by sufferance, not just those with formal written leases. The inclusion of 'immigration or citizenship status' as a defined term signals that landlords covered by this Act are expected to treat tenants without regard to actual or perceived immigration or citizenship status.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under 765 Ill. Comp. Stat. 755, tenants are broadly defined to include people occupying a dwelling unit under oral agreements, approved subtenancies, or even by sufferance—meaning a wide range of living arrangements may qualify for the Act's protections. The explicit definition of 'immigration or citizenship status' as covering both actual and perceived status is significant, as it indicates the Act is designed to extend protections regardless of a tenant's documentation. Tenants who believe they are being treated differently based on immigration or citizenship status, or who are uncertain whether their living arrangement qualifies under these definitions, may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization familiar with Illinois housing law for general guidance.
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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