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Centralia is a small city of roughly 12,000 residents in Marion County, situated in southern Illinois. Like many downstate Illinois communities, Centralia has a significant renter population that depends on state law for nearly all tenant protections, as the city has not enacted any local landlord-tenant ordinances beyond what Illinois statute requires.
Renters in Centralia most commonly seek information about security deposit returns, landlord repair obligations, and their rights when facing eviction. Illinois provides a baseline of protections — including the Security Deposit Return Act (765 ILCS 710), statewide anti-retaliation provisions, and mandatory court-supervised eviction procedures — that apply equally in Centralia as they do across the state.
This page is intended as general educational information about tenant rights in Centralia, Illinois. It is not legal advice. Laws can change, and your specific situation may require consultation with a licensed attorney or local legal aid organization.
Centralia has no rent control ordinance, and Illinois state law makes it impossible for any Illinois municipality — including Centralia — to enact one. The Illinois preemption statute, 765 ILCS 720, explicitly prohibits local governments from enacting, maintaining, or enforcing any ordinance that controls the amount of rent charged for leasing private residential property.
In practical terms, this means your landlord in Centralia may raise your rent by any amount and at any frequency, as long as they provide proper advance notice (at least 30 days for month-to-month tenancies before the increase takes effect) and the increase does not violate anti-retaliation law. There is no cap on how much rents can increase, no requirement that increases be tied to inflation, and no local board or process for challenging a rent hike. Tenants who disagree with a rent increase may only choose to accept the new terms or vacate with proper notice.
Although Centralia has no local tenant ordinance, Illinois state law provides several meaningful protections for renters in Marion County.
Security Deposit (765 ILCS 710 & 765 ILCS 711): Landlords who hold a security deposit must return it — along with an itemized written statement of any deductions — within 30 days of the tenant vacating the unit. If the landlord fails to comply, the tenant may be entitled to recover double the withheld amount plus court costs under the Security Deposit Return Act.
Habitability: Under Illinois common law, landlords have an implied duty to maintain rental units in a habitable condition. This includes functioning heat, adequate weatherproofing, working plumbing, and freedom from serious pest infestations. While Illinois does not have a single statewide habitability statute equivalent to Chicago's RLTO, courts have recognized the implied warranty of habitability, and tenants may have remedies such as rent withholding or repair-and-deduct in egregious circumstances — consult an attorney before withholding rent.
Anti-Retaliation (765 ILCS 720/1): Illinois law prohibits landlords from retaliating against tenants for reporting code violations, contacting a government agency about housing conditions, or otherwise exercising their legal rights. Retaliatory evictions and rent increases are unlawful. A tenant who experiences retaliation may raise it as a defense in eviction proceedings or pursue it as an affirmative claim.
Notice Requirements (735 ILCS 5/9-207): For month-to-month tenancies, either the landlord or tenant must give at least 30 days written notice to terminate the tenancy. For week-to-week tenancies, 7 days notice is required. Notice must be given before the end of the rental period it is intended to terminate.
Lockout and Utility Shutoff Prohibition: Illinois law prohibits landlords from engaging in self-help eviction. A landlord may not change the locks, remove doors or windows, or shut off utilities in an attempt to force a tenant out without obtaining a court judgment and order of possession. Doing so exposes the landlord to civil liability.
Illinois law governing security deposits is found primarily in the Security Deposit Return Act (765 ILCS 710) and the Security Deposit Interest Act (765 ILCS 710/0.01 et seq.). These statutes apply to Centralia landlords who own five or more units.
No statutory cap: Illinois does not limit the amount a landlord may charge as a security deposit for residential rentals outside of Chicago. A Centralia landlord may charge any amount agreed upon in the lease.
Return deadline — 30 days: A landlord subject to 765 ILCS 710 must return the security deposit — or provide a written itemized statement of deductions along with any remaining balance — within 30 days after the tenant surrenders the unit. If deductions are claimed, the landlord must provide receipts or invoices for the repair costs within 30 days (or 60 days if the work cannot reasonably be completed within 30 days and an estimate is provided).
Penalty for wrongful withholding: If the landlord wrongfully withholds all or part of the security deposit without a good-faith basis, the tenant may sue to recover twice the amount wrongfully withheld, plus court costs and reasonable attorney fees, under 765 ILCS 710/1. Tenants should document the condition of the unit at move-in and move-out (photographs, written records) to support any claim.
Interest on deposits: Landlords who own 25 or more units and hold deposits for six months or longer may be required to pay interest on deposits under 765 ILCS 710/0.01; tenants in smaller buildings should review their lease and consult legal aid for guidance on whether this applies to their situation.
Evictions in Centralia follow Illinois state law, primarily governed by the Forcible Entry and Detainer Act (735 ILCS 5/9-101 et seq.). A landlord must go through the court process to remove a tenant — there are no shortcuts.
Step 1 — Written Notice: Before filing an eviction lawsuit, the landlord must serve the tenant with written notice. The type and duration of notice depends on the reason for eviction:
Step 2 — Court Filing: If the tenant does not comply with the notice, the landlord may file an eviction complaint in Marion County Circuit Court. The tenant will receive a summons and a hearing date.
Step 3 — Court Hearing: Both parties appear before the judge. The tenant has the right to present defenses, such as that rent was paid, the eviction is retaliatory, or the landlord failed to maintain habitable conditions. If the landlord prevails, the court issues an order of possession.
Step 4 — Enforcement: Even after receiving an order of possession, the landlord must have a law enforcement officer (sheriff or deputy) physically execute the eviction. A landlord may not personally remove the tenant or their belongings.
Self-Help Eviction is Illegal: A landlord in Centralia may never change the locks, remove doors or windows, shut off utilities, or otherwise attempt to physically force a tenant out without a court order. Such actions constitute unlawful self-help eviction and expose the landlord to civil liability under Illinois law.
No Just Cause Requirement: Centralia has no just-cause eviction ordinance. At the end of a lease term or with proper notice on a month-to-month tenancy, a landlord may choose not to renew the tenancy without giving a specific reason, provided the action is not retaliatory under 765 ILCS 720/1.
The information on this page is provided for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws in Illinois and the City of Centralia may change, and the application of any law depends on the specific facts of your situation. Renters seeking guidance on a particular dispute or legal matter should consult a licensed Illinois attorney or contact a local legal aid organization such as Prairie State Legal Services or Illinois Legal Aid Online. RentCheckMe makes no warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information presented here.
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