What disclosures are required in an Illinois lease agreement?

Every Illinois lease must include a radon disclosure (units below the 3rd floor) and a lead-paint disclosure for pre-1978 buildings. Since January 1, 2026, the Summary of Rights for Safer Homes Act is also mandatory as the first page of every new or renewed lease. Chicago landlords must also attach the RLTO summary, bed bug brochure, and a heating cost disclosure if tenants pay heat.

Do Chicago landlords have extra lease requirements beyond Illinois state law?

Yes. Chicago landlords must attach at least 4 additional documents: the RLTO ordinance summary, the Chicago Health Department bed bug brochure, a heating cost disclosure (if the tenant pays heat), and a security deposit receipt with the current interest rate. Missing any of these can trigger RLTO penalties.

What lease clauses are illegal in Illinois?

Illinois law voids several common lease provisions: waivers of the right to a jury trial, clauses requiring tenants to pay landlord attorney fees in disputes, provisions limiting landlord liability for negligence, and any clause waiving a tenant's right to break the lease in cases of constructive eviction. Including these doesn't just make them unenforceable — it can expose you to tenant claims.

Illinois Lease Agreement Requirements - 2026 Compliance Checklist

Q: What happens if I don't include the Summary of Rights for Safer Homes in my lease?

Failure to include the Safer Homes summary exposes you to penalties of up to $2,000 per lease — the greater of actual tenant damages or $100 — plus the tenant's attorney fees if they sue. Every page of the summary must be signed by the tenant acknowledging receipt.

Every Illinois residential lease in 2026 requires at least 3 mandatory disclosures statewide — and Chicago properties need 4 more on top of that. Two of those requirements changed this year: the Summary of Rights for Safer Homes became mandatory on January 1, and new fee restrictions took effect July 1. Landlords who haven't updated their templates since 2025 are likely out of compliance on at least one count.

This checklist covers every mandatory element for Illinois residential leases in 2026, including the new requirements that apply to every property statewide and the additional layer that applies specifically inside the City of Chicago.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a qualified attorney for guidance specific to your situation.

What Every Illinois Lease Must Include

Illinois doesn't mandate a specific lease format, but every written residential lease agreement needs these foundational elements to be enforceable:

Parties: Full legal names of all tenants (and co-signers, if any) and the landlord or management company
Property description: The full address including unit number
Rent amount and due date: The monthly amount, when it's due, and any grace period
Lease term: Start and end dates for a fixed-term lease, or a statement that it's month-to-month
Security deposit amount: The dollar amount held and the account or institution where it's kept
Late fees: Any charges for late payment must be specified in the lease to be enforceable
Pet policy: Whether pets are allowed, any pet deposit, and what breeds or sizes are permitted

Month-to-month leases in Illinois can be terminated by either party with 30 days' written notice^{ILGA — Landlord-Tenant Act}. Fixed-term leases end on the stated date without notice.

New 2026 Requirements: What Changed This Year

Two significant law changes took effect in 2026. If you haven't updated your lease template since 2025, you're likely out of compliance.

Summary of Rights for Safer Homes Act (Effective January 1, 2026)

Starting January 1, 2026, every written residential lease — new and renewed — must include the Summary of Rights for Safer Homes as its first page^{IL DHR}. The document must be signed on each page by every tenant acknowledging receipt.

The summary outlines tenant rights related to domestic or sexual violence, including:

The right to terminate a lease early without penalty when facing a credible threat of domestic or sexual violence
The right to change or rekey locks at their own expense to prevent further abuse
Protection from eviction based solely on incidents of domestic or sexual violence
The right to request a new lock if a perpetrator is a co-tenant

Penalties for non-compliance are steep. Landlords who fail to include the summary face up to $2,000 per lease — specifically, the greater of actual tenant damages or $100 — plus the tenant's attorney fees if they sue^{Clark Hill PLC}. The official document is available in multiple languages on the Illinois Department of Human Rights website at dhr.illinois.gov.

An abbreviated or shortened version does not satisfy the requirement. You must use the complete official summary.

Fee Restrictions Effective July 1, 2026

A second round of changes took effect July 1, 2026^{KSN Law}. Make sure your lease doesn't include any of these now-prohibited fees:

Fee Type	Status After July 1, 2026
Application fee (standard)	Capped at $50
Application fee when tenant provides a valid PTSR	$0 — cannot charge any fee
Lease renewal fee	Prohibited
After-hours maintenance fee	Prohibited
Both security deposit and move-in fee on same lease	Prohibited

If your lease template still includes a renewal fee or a boilerplate after-hours charge, remove it before your next signing. Charging a prohibited fee gives tenants grounds for a claim even if they agreed to it in writing.

For a deeper look at all three 2026 legal changes — including the new eviction restrictions — see our guide to Illinois rental law changes for 2026.

Required Disclosures Under Illinois State Law

Beyond the lease text itself, Illinois law requires landlords to deliver specific documents before or at lease signing. Missing these doesn't just create legal exposure — courts have used missing disclosures to dismiss eviction cases.

Lead-Based Paint Disclosure (Pre-1978 Buildings)

Federal law requires landlords of properties built before 1978 to disclose any known lead-based paint hazards and provide tenants with the EPA's "Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home" pamphlet^EPA. The tenant must acknowledge receipt in writing, typically by signing the disclosure form. This applies to every state — it's not Illinois-specific — but non-compliance carries federal civil penalties that the EPA adjusts annually; check the current penalty schedule at epa.gov for the exact figure.

Radon Hazards Disclosure (Units Below the 3rd Floor)

The Illinois Radon Awareness Act requires landlords to provide a radon hazard disclosure form and the state's radon informational pamphlet before signing any lease for units on the first or second floor, or below^{ILGA — Radon Awareness Act}. Landlords aren't required to test for radon — but if a previous test showed elevated levels, you must disclose that result to every prospective tenant.

Agent or Manager Disclosure

Illinois law requires landlords to disclose, in writing, the name and address of the person authorized to manage the property and the owner (or a person authorized to receive legal notices on the owner's behalf). This disclosure must be kept current. If you switch property managers, update the disclosure in writing.

Chicago RLTO: Additional Requirements for City Landlords

The Chicago Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance adds a second compliance layer for properties within city limits. If you own a rental in Chicago — including two-flats and three-flats — you're subject to the RLTO in addition to state law.

Chicago landlords must attach the following to every new lease and every renewal:

RLTO Ordinance Summary

The City of Chicago's official summary of the ordinance must be provided to every tenant. It's a multi-page document that outlines tenant and landlord rights under the RLTO, including notice periods, security deposit rules, and habitability standards. You can download the current version from the City of Chicago's website.

Chicago Health Department Bed Bug Brochure

Since Chicago's Bed Bug Ordinance took effect, landlords must provide the City of Chicago Department of Health's brochure on bed bug prevention and treatment with every lease^{City of Chicago}. This applies at move-in and at every renewal.

Heating Cost Disclosure

If the tenant is responsible for paying their own heat — whether electric, gas, or another fuel — Chicago landlords must provide a heating cost disclosure showing the average utility cost for the previous 12 months^Domu. This helps tenants budget accurately and protects you from complaints about undisclosed utility costs.

Security Deposit Receipt and Interest Rate Notice

When you collect a security deposit in Chicago, you must provide a written receipt that includes the current annual interest rate set by the City Controller. For 2026, Chicago set the security deposit interest rate at 0.01%^{City of Chicago Controller}. Landlords must pay (or credit toward rent) interest on deposits held 6 months or longer, annually.

For a complete breakdown of Chicago deposit rules — including the separate account requirement and the 30-day itemization deadline — see our Illinois security deposit law guide.

Clauses That Are Void and Unenforceable in Illinois

At least 5 types of lease clauses are void under Illinois law — even if both parties signed them. Including a prohibited clause doesn't automatically invalidate the rest of the lease, but it does expose you to tenant claims and can undermine your position in court.

Do not include any of the following:

Waiver of jury trial: Tenants cannot waive their right to a jury trial in a residential lease
Tenant pays landlord's attorney fees: Illinois law prohibits lease clauses requiring tenants to pay landlord attorney fees in the event of a dispute^Platuni
Limitation of landlord liability for negligence: You cannot disclaim liability for your own negligence in a residential lease
Waiver of constructive eviction rights: Tenants have a statutory right to terminate a lease if the property becomes uninhabitable; a clause purporting to waive this is unenforceable
Restrictions on composting in Chicago: Chicago ordinances prohibit lease provisions that unreasonably restrict tenants from composting, though you may impose reasonable conditions around containers and odor control

If you're using a template that's more than a few years old, have an attorney review it before your next signing cycle.

Putting It Together: A Pre-Signing Checklist

Before handing over keys, confirm you've included or delivered all of the following:

State requirements (all Illinois rentals):

Lease contains all foundational elements (parties, rent, term, deposit, fees, pet policy)
Summary of Rights for Safer Homes as the first page of the lease, signed on each page by every tenant
Lead-based paint disclosure + EPA pamphlet (pre-1978 buildings only)
Radon disclosure + state pamphlet (units below 3rd floor)
Agent/manager disclosure with current name and address
No prohibited clauses (jury waiver, fee-shifting, negligence disclaimer, etc.)
No prohibited fees (renewal fees, after-hours maintenance fees, etc.)

Chicago only (RLTO):

RLTO ordinance summary
Chicago Health Department bed bug brochure
Heating cost disclosure (if tenant pays heat)
Security deposit receipt with current 0.01% interest rate

A missed item isn't just a paperwork problem. Under the RLTO, missing disclosures can give tenants grounds to withhold rent, terminate early, or recover statutory damages — in some cases before you've even had a chance to correct the oversight.

How Professional Management Reduces Compliance Risk

Keeping up with annual updates to disclosure requirements, fee caps, and new statutes is one of the less glamorous parts of being a landlord. A single missed addendum on a Chicago lease can cost more than a full year of management fees to resolve.

Sync Properties maintains up-to-date lease templates for every jurisdiction we manage in — Illinois state, Chicago RLTO, and suburb-specific ordinances. Every lease we execute includes all required disclosures, is reviewed against current law, and is documented so that compliance history is available if a dispute ever arises.

If you're managing your own properties but want a second opinion on your current lease template, reach out to our team or use our free rental analysis tool to see how professional management stacks up against your current approach.