Getting the Security Deposit Back
765 ILCS 710/1 — an itemized statement within 30 days, or the whole deposit back within 45
A residential landlord may not keep any part of a security deposit for property damage unless, within 30 days after the tenant moved out or the right of possession ended, whichever is later, the landlord sends an itemized statement of the damage and the cost of repairing or replacing each item, with the paid receipts or copies.
Who handles this in Illinois: Illinois Legal Aid Online and Eviction Help Illinois; and legal aid programs, lawyer referral and the state offices, listed in the Illinois directory.
- The statement goes by personal delivery, by postmarked mail to the tenant's last known address, or by email to a verified address the tenant provided.
- Where the statement gives estimated costs, the landlord sends the paid receipts within 30 days after the statement.
- A landlord who does the repairs personally may include the reasonable cost of that labor.
- Costs a written lease sets for cleaning or repair must be for damage beyond normal wear and tear, and the statement includes the part of the lease that sets them.
No statement, the whole deposit. Where no statement and receipts are sent as required, the landlord returns the security deposit in full within 45 days of the date the tenant moved out. A tenant who gave no mailing or email address cannot hold the landlord liable for damages or penalties for that.
Where a court finds the landlord refused to supply the itemized statement or supplied it in bad faith, and did not return the deposit due on time, the landlord is liable for twice the amount of the deposit due, plus court costs and reasonable attorney's fees.
Sources for this section (1)
- 765 ILCS 710/1 — Statement of damage
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Illinois attorney.