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Lindenhurst is a village in Lake County, Illinois, located approximately 40 miles north of Chicago. Like many suburban communities in the Chicago metropolitan area, Lindenhurst has a mix of rental housing — including apartments, townhomes, and single-family rentals — and renters here rely primarily on Illinois state law for their tenant protections.
Illinois does not have rent control anywhere in the state, and Lindenhurst has not enacted any local tenant protection ordinances beyond what state law requires. That means the key laws governing your tenancy — covering security deposits, habitability standards, eviction procedures, and retaliation protections — are found in state statutes such as the Illinois Security Deposit Return Act (765 ILCS 710), the Security Deposit Interest Act (765 ILCS 710), and Illinois common law. Understanding these protections is essential for every Lindenhurst renter.
This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws can change and individual circumstances vary. If you have a specific legal concern, consult a licensed Illinois attorney or a local legal aid organization.
Lindenhurst has no rent control, and landlords in the village are legally free to raise rents by any amount, at any time, subject only to providing proper advance notice before a lease term ends or a month-to-month tenancy is terminated.
This is not a local policy choice unique to Lindenhurst — it is the result of a statewide preemption law. The Illinois Rent Control Preemption Act (765 ILCS 720/1 et seq.) expressly prohibits any unit of local government in Illinois — including cities, villages, and counties — from enacting, maintaining, or enforcing any ordinance or resolution that would regulate the amount of rent charged for private residential or commercial property. This law was enacted in 1997 and remains in full effect.
In practice, this means that no matter how quickly rents rise in Lindenhurst or surrounding Lake County, your landlord is not legally limited in how much they can increase your rent. Your only protection against sudden rent hikes is whatever is written in your lease — once a fixed-term lease expires, a landlord may propose a new rent at any amount. Renters should carefully review lease terms before signing and budget for the possibility of rent increases at renewal.
Although Lindenhurst has no local tenant ordinances, Illinois state law provides several important protections for renters throughout the state.
Habitability: Under Illinois common law, all residential landlords have an implied duty to maintain rental units in a habitable condition. This means the property must have functioning heat, plumbing, weatherproofing, and freedom from serious health or safety hazards. If a landlord fails to maintain habitability after receiving written notice, tenants may have remedies including repair-and-deduct or rent withholding, though these remedies carry legal risk and tenants should consult an attorney before withholding rent.
Security Deposits: The Illinois Security Deposit Return Act (765 ILCS 710/1) requires landlords who hold security deposits for properties with 5 or more units to return the deposit within 30 days of the tenant vacating, along with an itemized statement of any deductions. The Illinois Security Deposit Interest Act (765 ILCS 710) also requires landlords of properties with 25 or more units to pay interest on deposits held for more than 6 months. Penalties for noncompliance are described in the Security Deposit section below.
Notice Requirements: For month-to-month tenancies, Illinois law requires at least 30 days written notice from either the landlord or tenant to terminate the tenancy. For tenancies of a year or longer, 60 days notice may be required. These requirements exist under long-established Illinois common law and the Landlord and Tenant Act (765 ILCS 720).
Anti-Retaliation: Under 765 ILCS 720/1, a landlord may not retaliate against a tenant for complaining to a government authority about code violations, for requesting repairs, or for exercising any other legal right as a tenant. Retaliatory acts can include unjustified rent increases, eviction threats, or reduction of services. A tenant who suffers retaliation may have a defense in an eviction action and may be entitled to damages.
Lockout and Utility Shutoff Prohibition: Illinois law prohibits self-help evictions. A landlord may not change locks, remove doors or windows, or deliberately shut off utilities in order to force a tenant out without going through the court eviction process. Such actions are illegal regardless of whether the tenant owes back rent.
Security deposit rules for Lindenhurst renters are governed by Illinois state law. The two key statutes are the Illinois Security Deposit Return Act (765 ILCS 710/1) and the Illinois Security Deposit Interest Act (765 ILCS 710).
No Statewide Cap: Illinois does not impose a statewide limit on how large a security deposit a landlord may collect. Landlords in Lindenhurst can legally charge any amount as a security deposit, though market norms typically range from one to two months' rent.
Return Deadline: Landlords who own or manage residential property with 5 or more units must return the security deposit — or the balance remaining after lawful deductions — within 30 days after the tenant surrenders possession of the unit. The landlord must also provide an itemized written statement of any deductions for damages (beyond normal wear and tear) or unpaid rent. Note that the 30-day return requirement under 765 ILCS 710/1 applies specifically to buildings with 5 or more units; tenants in smaller buildings should review their lease and may still have common-law protections.
Interest on Deposits: Landlords of buildings with 25 or more units who hold a security deposit for more than 6 months must pay interest on that deposit at the rate set annually by the Illinois Commissioner of Banks and Real Estate, pursuant to 765 ILCS 710/0.01.
Penalties for Noncompliance: If a landlord who is subject to the Security Deposit Return Act (i.e., managing 5 or more units) fails to return the deposit or provide the required itemized statement within 30 days, the tenant may be entitled to recover the full amount of the security deposit, plus damages — courts have interpreted this to include the deposit itself as a penalty for wrongful withholding. Tenants should document the condition of the unit at move-in and move-out with photos and written records to support any dispute.
Evictions in Lindenhurst must follow Illinois state law. A landlord cannot remove a tenant through self-help measures — the law requires written notice and a court judgment before a tenant can be legally required to vacate.
Step 1 — Written Notice: Before filing an eviction lawsuit, the landlord must serve the tenant with a 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 (formerly called "forcible entry and detainer") lawsuit in the Lake County Circuit Court. The tenant will be served with a summons and given an opportunity to appear and respond.
Step 3 — Court Hearing: Both parties present their case before a judge. If the landlord prevails, the court issues an eviction order (order of possession). A tenant may raise defenses including improper notice, landlord retaliation, or failure to maintain habitability.
Step 4 — Enforcement: After the court issues an order of possession, the landlord may request that the Lake County Sheriff enforce the order and physically remove the tenant if necessary. Only the sheriff may carry out a lawful eviction — the landlord may not do so personally.
Self-Help Eviction Is Illegal: Under Illinois law (735 ILCS 5/9-101 et seq.), a landlord who changes locks, removes doors or windows, shuts off utilities, or takes any other self-help action to force a tenant out without a court order is acting illegally. Tenants who experience self-help eviction attempts should contact local police and a legal aid organization immediately.
The information provided on this page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws are subject to change, and individual circumstances can significantly affect how the law applies to your situation. Lindenhurst and Illinois law may have been amended after the last update of this article (April 2026). Renters with specific legal concerns should consult a licensed Illinois attorney or contact a qualified legal aid organization such as Prairie State Legal Services or Illinois Legal Aid Online. Do not rely solely on this article when making decisions about your tenancy.
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