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Troy is a growing city in Madison County, Illinois, situated in the Metro East region of the St. Louis metropolitan area. Like many suburban Illinois communities, Troy has seen steady residential growth, and renters here rely entirely on Illinois state law for their tenant protections — no city-level rental ordinances apply.
Tenants in Troy most commonly seek information about security deposit return timelines, their landlord's duty to make repairs, proper eviction notice requirements, and protections against landlord retaliation. All of these rights are governed by state statutes, including the Illinois Security Deposit Return Act (765 ILCS 710), the Illinois Security Deposit Interest Act (765 ILCS 710), and the general anti-retaliation provisions at 765 ILCS 720/1.
This page provides a factual overview of the tenant rights that apply in Troy, Illinois. It is informational only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have a specific dispute with your landlord, consult a licensed Illinois attorney or a legal aid organization serving Madison County.
Troy has no rent control ordinance, and Illinois state law makes it impossible for any municipality — including Troy — to enact one. The Illinois Rent Control Preemption Act, codified at 765 ILCS 720, expressly prohibits all units of local government from enacting, maintaining, or enforcing any ordinance or resolution that would regulate the amount of rent charged for leasing private residential property.
In practical terms, this means your landlord in Troy can raise your rent by any amount at the expiration of your lease term or, for month-to-month tenancies, with proper written notice. There is no cap on rent increases, no requirement to justify a rent hike, and no local agency that reviews rental pricing. The only protection is that a landlord cannot raise rent in retaliation for a tenant exercising legal rights (see 765 ILCS 720/1).
Renters should review their lease carefully before signing and negotiate rent terms upfront, since no local law will limit future increases once a new lease period begins.
Habitability (Illinois Common Law & 765 ILCS 735): Illinois landlords are required to maintain rental units in a habitable condition. This means providing functioning heat, plumbing, and structural integrity, and keeping the premises free from conditions that would endanger a tenant's health or safety. Under 765 ILCS 735/1, if a landlord fails to maintain a habitable unit after receiving written notice, a tenant may have the right to withhold rent or make repairs and deduct the cost, up to the limits permitted by law. Tenants should document all repair requests in writing.
Security Deposit Protections (765 ILCS 710 & 765 ILCS 710/1): The Illinois Security Deposit Return Act requires landlords to return a tenant's security deposit — along with an itemized statement of any deductions — within 30 days after the tenant vacates. If the landlord fails to comply, the tenant may be entitled to recover the full deposit plus damages. See the Security Deposit section below for full detail.
Notice to Terminate (735 ILCS 5/9-207): For month-to-month tenancies in Illinois, either the landlord or tenant must give at least 30 days written notice before terminating the tenancy. Week-to-week tenancies require 7 days notice. These minimum periods cannot be waived by lease language.
Anti-Retaliation (765 ILCS 720/1): Illinois law prohibits landlords from retaliating against tenants who complain to a government authority about code violations, organize with other tenants, or exercise any legal right. Retaliatory acts — such as raising rent, reducing services, or threatening eviction after a protected activity — are unlawful. A tenant facing retaliation may raise it as a defense in an eviction proceeding or pursue it as an independent claim.
Lockout & Utility Shutoff Prohibition (735 ILCS 5/9-101): Self-help eviction is illegal in Illinois. A landlord cannot remove a tenant by changing the locks, removing doors or windows, or shutting off utilities as a means of forcing a tenant out. The landlord must obtain a court judgment and a court-issued order of possession before any eviction can be enforced by a sheriff.
Illinois does not impose a statewide statutory cap on the amount of a security deposit a Troy landlord may charge. However, once a deposit is collected, the Illinois Security Deposit Return Act (765 ILCS 710) strictly governs its return.
Return deadline: A landlord must return the security deposit — or the balance after lawful deductions — within 30 days after the tenant surrenders possession of the unit. If the landlord intends to make deductions, they must provide an itemized statement of damages in writing along with any receipts or repair estimates within that same 30-day window.
Penalty for wrongful withholding: If a landlord wrongfully withholds all or part of a security deposit in violation of 765 ILCS 710, the tenant may recover the entire deposit amount plus damages. For larger landlords (those owning 25 or more units), the Illinois Security Deposit Interest Act (765 ILCS 710/1) also requires that interest be paid on deposits held for more than six months, at a rate set annually by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
Practical tips: Document the condition of the unit with photos at move-in and move-out, provide your forwarding address in writing when you vacate, and keep a copy of your lease and any correspondence with your landlord. These steps are critical if you need to pursue a claim for the return of your deposit.
Evictions in Troy follow the standard Illinois eviction process established under 735 ILCS 5/9-101 et seq. A landlord cannot remove a tenant without following this legal process — self-help eviction by changing locks, removing belongings, or cutting utilities is illegal.
Step 1 — Written Notice: Before filing for eviction, a landlord must serve the tenant with proper written notice. The type and duration 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 in Madison County Circuit Court. The tenant will be served with a summons and given the opportunity to appear and respond.
Step 3 — Court Hearing: Both parties may present their case before a judge. Tenants have the right to raise defenses such as retaliation, landlord failure to maintain habitability, or improper notice. If the court rules in the landlord's favor, it will issue an order of possession.
Step 4 — Enforcement: Only the Madison County Sheriff may enforce an order of possession. The sheriff will provide the tenant with a specific date by which they must vacate before physically removing them. No landlord may act to remove a tenant without a sheriff's enforcement of a valid court order.
Just Cause: Troy has no just-cause eviction requirement. At the end of a lease term, a landlord is not legally obligated to provide a reason for non-renewal, as long as proper notice is given and the decision is not retaliatory or discriminatory.
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws can change, and specific facts in your situation may affect which rules apply to you. For advice about your individual circumstances, consult a licensed Illinois attorney or contact a legal aid organization serving Madison County. RentCheckMe makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of this information and is not liable for actions taken in reliance on it.
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