Illinois recognizes an implied warranty of habitability in every residential lease through case law, not a single statute. The Illinois Supreme Court established it in Jack Spring, Inc. v. Little (1972), holding that all residential leases include the warranty, fulfilled by substantial compliance with applicable building codes. Chicago's RLTO adds detailed statutory standards.
There is no statewide habitability statute; the duty arises from Illinois common law. In Jack Spring, Inc. v. Little, 50 Ill. 2d 351 (1972), the Illinois Supreme Court abandoned the old rule that a landlord owed no repair duty and held that residential leases (oral or written) include an implied warranty of habitability 'fulfilled by substantial compliance with the pertinent provisions' of the applicable building code. Pole Realty Co. v. Sorrells (1981) extended the warranty beyond multi-unit buildings. A breach must be substantial enough to render the unit unsafe or unsanitary, and the duty to pay rent is dependent on the landlord's performance, so tenants may have remedies such as rent abatement. The Chicago RLTO codifies specific maintenance duties locally.
No specific statutory penalty statewide. On a substantial breach, tenants may pursue common-law remedies including rent abatement, damages, or, in some cases, termination; because rent is dependent on the warranty, a court may reduce rent to the unit's diminished value. Chicago's RLTO adds its own remedies.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Peoria, IL
Peoria adopts the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) through Chapter 5 (Buildings). IPMC Section 303.2 (Enclosures) requires private swimming poo...
Peoria, IL
Peoria's Appendix B (Zoning Ordinance) regulates fence material and finish standards in residential districts. Barbed wire and electrified fences are restric...
Peoria, IL
Illinois has no statewide 'good neighbor' fence cost-sharing statute, and Peoria does not require neighbor consent before installing a boundary fence. The Il...
Peoria, IL
Peoria requires a Fence Permit from the Building Safety Division (419 Fulton Street, Room 203, 309-494-8600) before installing most residential fences. Appli...
Peoria, IL
Peoria regulates residential fence heights through Appendix B (Zoning Ordinance) of the Code of Ordinances. Typical residential standards limit fences in fro...
Peoria, IL
Peoria's Code of Ordinances Chapter 5 (Animals) does not impose a specific numerical cap on dogs or cats per household, but excessive numbers that result in ...
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