Illinois landlord forms / Security Deposit Return Letter
Illinois Security Deposit Return Letter
$19An itemized security deposit return letter, timed to your state's statutory deadline — this is the single most litigated moment in a tenancy, and missing the deadline or itemization requirement can cost a landlord the right to keep any of the deposit.
Core state figures — deposit caps, notice periods, entry rules — independently verified by a licensed U.S. attorney.
What Illinois law requires
- Security deposit cap
- Illinois has no statewide cap on how much a landlord can charge for a security deposit. (Buildings with 25 or more units must pay the tenant interest on deposits held over 6 months, under a separate statute — 765 ILCS 715/1 — not a cap on the deposit amount itself.)765 ILCS 715/1 (interest-only; no statute imposes a deposit-amount cap) · source
- Deposit return deadline
- 45 days (up to 30 if withholding)765 ILCS 710/1(a) · source
- Month-to-month termination notice
- 30 days735 ILCS 5/9-207 · source
- Pay-or-quit notice (late rent)
- 5 days735 ILCS 5/9-209 · source
- Late fee guidance
- no statutory cap
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I miss the deadline?
Most states penalize a late or non-itemized return — commonly forfeiting the right to withhold any amount, sometimes with additional statutory damages. Deadlines vary by state; this document is timed to yours.
Do I need to itemize every deduction?
Yes, in virtually every state — a vague "cleaning and repairs" line is not sufficient. List each deduction separately with its own amount.
Need more than one document?
The Complete Landlord Pack includes this document plus 5 more for Illinois, with unlimited edits for 12 months.
See the Illinois pack