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Leaving a Lease Early

735 ILCS 5/9-213.1 — the landlord has to take reasonable measures to limit the loss

A landlord takes reasonable measures to mitigate the damages it can recover from a tenant who defaults, such as by leaving before the lease ends.

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A tenant who leaves because of a credible imminent threat of domestic or sexual violence, and gives written notice within 3 days, owes no rent for the time after leaving.

Sources for this section (2)
  1. 735 ILCS 5/9-213.1 — Duty of landlord to mitigate damages
  2. 765 ILCS 750/15 — Affirmative defense

Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Illinois attorney.

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