Illinois Room Rental Agreement Template

An agreement for renting one bedroom in a shared home, with private and shared areas, house rules, a fair utility split and clear notice terms. This edition fills in the Illinois rules we could confirm and marks the rest as blanks to check.

Illinois rules for this form

Deposit limit. Illinois law does not cap the amount of a security deposit statewide. (Security Deposit Return Act (765 ILCS 710))

Deadline to return the deposit. To keep any part of the deposit for damage, the landlord must send an itemized statement within 30 days after move out; otherwise the full deposit is due within 45 days. (765 ILCS 710/1)

Notice before entry. There is no statewide statute on entry notice, so the lease controls, and some cities, including Chicago, set their own notice rules. (Illinois law (no statewide entry statute) and local ordinances)

Month-to-month notice. A month-to-month tenancy ends with 30 days of written notice. (735 ILCS 5/9-207)

Required disclosures. Homes built before 1978 need the federal lead-based paint disclosure and the EPA pamphlet. (Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act (42 U.S.C. 4852d))

Required disclosures. A landlord who knows of a radon hazard in the unit generally must disclose it to current and prospective tenants. (Radon Industry Licensing Act)

Cities and counties in Illinois can add their own rules on top of these. Check local ordinances before you sign.

What is in the template

1. Parties
2. The room and shared areas
3. Term
4. Rent
5. Utilities and household costs
6. Security deposit
7. House rules
8. Privacy and entry
9. Care and repairs
10. Ending this Agreement for a breach
11. Moving out
12. General terms
13. Signatures

Before you use it

• A room rental agreement covers one private room plus shared use of common areas like the kitchen and bathroom.
• House rules on guests, quiet hours, cleaning and shared costs prevent most housemate disputes.
• Some states treat a renter who lives with the owner differently, especially for eviction, so check before you rely on it.
• Fair housing law still applies to most room rentals, though some owner-occupied homes have narrow exemptions.

For the full explanation of this form, read our guide to the room rental agreement.