Matteson is a south suburban village in Cook County, Illinois, with a significant renter population that relies on Illinois state law for tenant protections. Like all Illinois renters outside of Chicago, Matteson tenants are governed by statewide statutes rather than a comprehensive local ordinance. The most common questions from Matteson renters involve security deposit returns, repair obligations, and what happens when a landlord tries to evict without following proper procedures.
Illinois state law provides a meaningful baseline of protections: landlords must maintain habitable conditions, return security deposits on time with an itemized accounting, and follow a court-ordered eviction process. There is no local rent control in Matteson, and Illinois state law explicitly prohibits municipalities from enacting rent control under 50 ILCS 825/5. Renters should understand both what the law guarantees and where its limits lie.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws can change and individual circumstances vary. If you have a specific legal problem, consult a licensed Illinois attorney or contact a local legal aid organization.
Matteson has no rent control ordinance, and under Illinois law, it is legally prohibited from enacting one. The Illinois Rent Control Preemption Act, codified at 50 ILCS 825/5, expressly bars all units of local government — including villages, cities, and counties — from enacting, maintaining, or enforcing any ordinance that controls the amount of rent charged for privately owned residential or commercial property.
In practice, this means a landlord in Matteson can raise your rent by any amount at the end of a lease term, with no statutory cap on the increase. The only requirement is that landlords provide adequate written notice before a rent increase takes effect — at least 30 days for month-to-month tenants under 735 ILCS 5/9-207. For fixed-term leases, the lease itself governs when and whether rent may increase.
Because there is no rent stabilization in Illinois outside of limited affordable housing programs, Matteson renters facing a large rent increase have no legal mechanism to challenge the amount — only to decide whether to accept the new terms or vacate with proper notice. If you believe a rent increase is retaliatory (e.g., in response to a code complaint), that is a separate issue governed by anti-retaliation law under 765 ILCS 720/1.
Illinois state law provides several important protections for all renters, including those in Matteson. Below is a summary of the key protections and the statutes that govern them.
Implied Warranty of Habitability: Under Illinois common law (as recognized in Jack Spring, Inc. v. Little, 50 Ill. 2d 351 (1972)), all residential leases carry an implied warranty that the landlord will maintain the property in a habitable condition throughout the tenancy. This means functioning heat, plumbing, structural integrity, and freedom from serious health or safety hazards. If a landlord fails to make necessary repairs, tenants may have remedies including rent withholding or repair-and-deduct, though these remedies should be pursued carefully and ideally with legal guidance.
Security Deposit Protections: The Illinois Security Deposit Return Act (765 ILCS 710) and the Security Deposit Interest Act (765 ILCS 710/0.01 et seq.) govern how landlords must handle security deposits statewide. Landlords who manage 5 or more units must pay interest on deposits held for more than 6 months. Deposits must be returned with an itemized written statement of deductions within 30 days of the tenant vacating. Failure to comply can result in the landlord forfeiting the right to retain any portion of the deposit.
Notice Requirements: For month-to-month tenancies, Illinois law (735 ILCS 5/9-207) requires at least 30 days written notice from either the landlord or tenant to terminate the tenancy. For fixed-term leases, the lease end date itself constitutes notice unless otherwise specified. Week-to-week tenancies require 7 days notice.
Anti-Retaliation Protections: Under 765 ILCS 720/1, a landlord may not retaliate against a tenant for complaining to a governmental authority about code violations, organizing with other tenants, or exercising any right protected by law. Retaliatory acts include raising rent, decreasing services, or attempting eviction within a period that raises a presumption of retaliation (generally within one year of a protected act).
Prohibition on Self-Help Eviction: Illinois law (735 ILCS 5/9-101 et seq.) requires landlords to obtain a court judgment before removing a tenant. Changing locks, removing doors or windows, shutting off utilities, or removing a tenant's belongings without a court order is illegal self-help eviction and exposes the landlord to civil liability.
2025-2026 Illinois law updates: Effective January 1, 2026, the Safer Homes Act (Public Act 103-1031) requires landlords to attach the Illinois Department of Human Rights' Summary of Rights to every residential lease; House Bill 3566 (Public Act 104-0317) prohibits landlords from naming minors as defendants in an eviction action, and a violation requires dismissal of the case and allows a $1,000 penalty plus actual damages and attorney's fees; and Senate Bill 1563 allows owners to have police remove certain unauthorized occupants or squatters under the criminal trespass statute without filing a full eviction case. Separately, the Landlord Retaliation Act took effect January 1, 2025, creating a one-year presumption that adverse landlord action taken after a tenant's protected activity is retaliatory.
Matteson landlords are subject to the Illinois Security Deposit Return Act (765 ILCS 710). There is no statewide statutory cap on the amount a landlord may charge as a security deposit — the amount is set by the lease agreement. However, once collected, the landlord has specific obligations regarding how the deposit is held and returned.
Return Deadline: Within 30 days after the tenant vacates the unit, the landlord must return the security deposit, minus any lawful deductions. If the landlord intends to make deductions, they must provide the tenant with an itemized written statement of damages and the cost of repair. Deductions may only be made for actual damages beyond normal wear and tear, or for unpaid rent.
Interest on Deposits: Under the Illinois Security Deposit Interest Act (765 ILCS 710/0.01), landlords who own or manage 5 or more residential units and hold a deposit for more than 6 months must pay interest on the deposit at a rate set annually by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. The interest must be paid to the tenant or credited toward rent each 12-month lease period.
Penalties for Non-Compliance: If a landlord fails to return the deposit or provide the required itemized statement within 30 days, the landlord forfeits the right to retain any portion of the deposit and may be held liable for the full deposit amount plus damages. Tenants should document the condition of the unit at move-in and move-out (photos, written records) and send a forwarding address in writing to establish the 30-day clock under 765 ILCS 710/1.
In Matteson, a landlord must follow the Illinois statutory eviction process and cannot remove a tenant without a court order. The process is governed primarily by the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure (735 ILCS 5/9-101 et seq.).
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 the Eviction Complaint: If the tenant does not comply with the notice, the landlord may file an eviction complaint (formerly called a forcible entry and detainer action) in the Cook 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 may present evidence and arguments at the hearing. If the court rules in the landlord's favor, it issues an order for possession. The tenant typically has a few days to vacate voluntarily before the order is enforced.
Step 4 — Enforcement by Sheriff: Only a Cook County Sheriff's deputy may physically remove a tenant. A landlord who attempts to remove a tenant — by changing locks, removing belongings, shutting off utilities, or any other self-help method — without a court order violates 735 ILCS 5/9-101 and may face civil liability for damages.
No Just Cause Requirement: Matteson has no just cause eviction ordinance. Landlords may decline to renew a fixed-term lease or terminate a month-to-month tenancy for any lawful reason, provided proper notice is given. However, eviction cannot be pursued for retaliatory or discriminatory reasons.
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 may significantly affect how the law applies to your situation. Matteson renters with specific legal questions should consult a licensed Illinois attorney or contact a qualified legal aid organization such as Illinois Legal Aid Online or Prairie State Legal Services. RentCheckMe makes no warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of this information and is not responsible for actions taken in reliance on it.
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