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Homer Glen is a village in Will County, Illinois, with a growing residential community where many households rent single-family homes, townhouses, and apartments. As rental housing in the southwestern Chicago suburbs becomes more competitive, renters in Homer Glen increasingly need to understand their rights under Illinois state law.
Illinois does not have rent control anywhere in the state, and Homer Glen has enacted no local tenant protections beyond what state law provides. That means your key protections come from statutes like the Illinois Security Deposit Return Act (765 ILCS 710), the Illinois Security Deposit Interest Act (765 ILCS 710/1 et seq.), the Illinois Rent Payment Act, and the general anti-retaliation provision at 765 ILCS 720. The eviction process is governed by the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure (735 ILCS 5/9-101 et seq.).
This page summarizes the tenant rights laws most relevant to Homer Glen renters. It is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have a specific legal problem, consult a licensed Illinois attorney or a free legal aid organization serving Will County.
Homer Glen has no rent control, and Illinois state law expressly prohibits any municipality from enacting rent control ordinances. Under 765 ILCS 720, the Rent Control Preemption Act, no unit of local government in Illinois — including Homer Glen, Will County, or any other municipality — may enact, maintain, or enforce any ordinance or resolution that controls the amount of rent charged for leasing private residential or commercial property.
In practice, this means your landlord in Homer Glen may raise your rent by any amount at the end of a lease term or, for month-to-month tenancies, with at least 30 days' written notice before the next rent due date. There is no cap on rent increases, no requirement that increases be tied to inflation, and no local board or agency to petition for relief from a rent hike.
If you receive a rent increase notice, your primary options are to negotiate with the landlord, accept the new terms, or exercise your right to vacate with proper notice. For guidance on negotiating or understanding your lease, contact Prairie State Legal Services or Illinois Legal Aid Online.
Illinois state law provides several important protections for renters in Homer Glen:
Implied Warranty of Habitability. Under Illinois common law, every residential lease carries an implied warranty of habitability. Landlords must maintain rental units in a condition fit for human habitation — including adequate heat, functioning plumbing, a weathertight structure, and freedom from serious pest infestations. If a landlord materially breaches this warranty, Illinois courts recognize tenant remedies including rent withholding, repair-and-deduct (in limited circumstances), and lease termination. Tenants should document all conditions and complaints in writing before pursuing any remedy.
Security Deposit Return (765 ILCS 710). The Illinois Security Deposit Return Act requires landlords who own 5 or more units to return a tenant's security deposit — less any lawfully withheld amounts — within 30 days after the tenant vacates and surrenders possession. The landlord must provide an itemized written statement of deductions. Failure to comply may entitle the tenant to a penalty (see the Security Deposit section below).
Security Deposit Interest (765 ILCS 710/1 et seq.). Landlords owning 25 or more units must pay interest on security deposits held for more than 6 months at a rate set by the Illinois State Treasurer. Failure to pay interest entitles the tenant to a penalty equal to the deposit amount plus court costs.
Notice to Terminate Month-to-Month Tenancy. Under Illinois law, either party must give at least 30 days' written notice before the next rent due date to terminate a month-to-month tenancy. For week-to-week tenancies, 7 days' notice is required. These baseline requirements are established by Illinois common law and reinforced by 735 ILCS 5/9-207.
Anti-Retaliation (765 ILCS 720). It is unlawful for a landlord to retaliate against a tenant for complaining to a governmental authority about code violations, organizing a tenants' union, or exercising any other legal right. Prohibited retaliatory acts include rent increases, eviction, reduction of services, and harassment. A tenant who proves retaliation may recover actual damages, punitive damages, and attorney's fees.
Prohibition on Self-Help Eviction. Illinois law prohibits landlords from locking out a tenant, removing doors or windows, or shutting off utilities to force a tenant out without a court order. Such conduct is illegal regardless of whether the tenant owes rent. The proper remedy is a formal eviction proceeding under 735 ILCS 5/9-101 et seq.
Homer Glen landlords must comply with the Illinois Security Deposit Return Act (765 ILCS 710) if they own 5 or more residential units. Here is how the law works in practice:
No Statutory Cap. Illinois state law does not cap the amount a landlord may charge as a security deposit. The amount is set by the lease agreement. Always confirm the deposit amount and payment terms in writing before signing.
30-Day Return Deadline. After a tenant vacates and surrenders possession of the unit, the landlord has 30 days to return the security deposit (or the portion not lawfully withheld). If the landlord intends to withhold any portion for damages beyond normal wear and tear, the landlord must provide an itemized written statement of the deductions and supporting documentation (e.g., receipts or repair estimates) within that same 30-day window (765 ILCS 710/1).
Penalty for Wrongful Withholding. If the landlord fails to return the deposit or provide the required itemized statement within 30 days without lawful justification, the tenant may be entitled to recover the entire deposit plus damages in a civil action. Illinois courts have awarded amounts ranging from the deposit itself to additional damages depending on the circumstances; consult an attorney regarding the specific remedy available in Will County Circuit Court.
Interest on Deposits. If your landlord owns 25 or more units, they must pay interest on your security deposit for any period it is held for more than 6 months, at the annual rate published by the Illinois State Treasurer (765 ILCS 710/1 et seq.). Failure to pay interest allows the tenant to deduct it from rent or sue for the amount owed.
Normal Wear and Tear. A landlord may not deduct from your deposit for ordinary wear and tear — minor scuffs, small nail holes from hanging pictures, and carpet wear from regular use. Deductions are permitted only for damage caused by the tenant beyond normal use. Photograph your unit thoroughly at move-in and move-out to protect your deposit.
Evictions in Homer Glen are governed by the Illinois Forcible Entry and Detainer Act (735 ILCS 5/9-101 et seq.). A landlord must follow each required step — there are no shortcuts, and self-help eviction is illegal.
Step 1 — Written Notice. Before filing in court, the landlord must serve the tenant with written notice. The type and length of notice depends on the reason for eviction:
Step 2 — Filing in Court. If the tenant does not comply with the notice, the landlord may file an eviction complaint (Forcible Entry and Detainer action) in the Will County Circuit Court. The tenant is served with a summons and has the opportunity to appear and contest the eviction.
Step 3 — Court Hearing. Both parties appear before a judge. The tenant may raise defenses such as the landlord's failure to maintain habitable conditions, improper notice, or retaliation. If the court rules in the landlord's favor, it issues an order for possession.
Step 4 — Enforcement by Sheriff. If the tenant does not vacate after a court order for possession is entered, the landlord may request the Will County Sheriff to enforce the order. Only a sheriff — not the landlord — may physically remove a tenant.
Self-Help Eviction is Illegal. A landlord in Homer Glen may not change the locks, remove the tenant's belongings, shut off heat, electricity, or water, or otherwise attempt to force a tenant out without a court order. Such conduct exposes the landlord to civil liability and, in some circumstances, criminal penalties under Illinois law. If your landlord attempts a self-help eviction, contact Prairie State Legal Services or Illinois Legal Aid Online immediately.
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws, local ordinances, and court interpretations can change, and individual circumstances vary significantly. Nothing on this page creates an attorney-client relationship. If you have a specific legal problem involving your rental housing in Homer Glen or Will County, you should consult a licensed Illinois attorney or contact a free legal aid organization such as Prairie State Legal Services or Illinois Legal Aid Online. Always verify the current status of any statute or ordinance with an attorney or official government source before relying on it.
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