Illinois requires landlords to provide an itemized deduction statement within 30 days. Learn what's required and what to do if your landlord didn't comply.
Analyze My Illinois Claim (Free)Law verified March 11, 2026
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Check My DepositIllinois law requires your landlord to provide an itemized written statement of any deductions within 30 days, separate from the 45-day deadline to return the deposit itself. This means there are two distinct deadlines to track. Missing either one can strengthen your claim.
Illinois has two distinct deadlines: 45 days to return the deposit itself, and 30 days to provide the itemized statement. Missing either triggers violations.
Itemization
Illinois law requires your landlord to provide an itemized written statement of any deductions within 30 days, separate from the 45-day deadline to return the deposit itself. This means there are two distinct deadlines to track. Missing either one can strengthen your claim.
Two deadlines to track: your landlord has 45 days to return the deposit, but only 30 days to provide the itemized statement. Missing either deadline strengthens your claim.
Courts in Illinois have generally held that a proper itemization must:
A vague statement such as “cleaning and repairs: $600” typically does not satisfy the requirement. If your landlord's itemization was insufficient, their deductions may be invalid even if the underlying charges were legitimate.
Questions
Your Illinois landlord has 45 days after your move-out date to return your security deposit along with an itemized statement of any deductions. This deadline is set by 765 ILCS 710/1.
If your landlord misses the 45-day deadline, you may be entitled to up to 3× the amount wrongfully withheld under 765 ILCS 710/1(c). The penalty applies when your landlord acted in bad faith.
No. Illinois law under 765 ILCS 710/1 explicitly prohibits landlords from deducting for normal wear and tear. This includes faded paint, minor scuffs, small nail holes, and carpet thinning from regular use. Deductions must be for actual damage beyond what normal living causes.
Under 765 ILCS 710/1, the itemization must list each specific deduction with a corresponding dollar amount. Vague entries like "repairs: $500" are generally insufficient. Each line item should identify what was damaged and why it was charged.
If your landlord fails to provide the required itemized statement within 30 days, they may lose the right to withhold any portion of your deposit under 765 ILCS 710/1. This is true even if some deductions might otherwise have been legitimate.
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