Illegal Evictions and Lockouts in Illinois

In Illinois, if you have an active lease agreement or if your landlord has ever accepted rent from you then the only way to make you leave your apartment is to evict you legally.

If a landlord locks you out of your apartment, removes you or any of your possessions, shuts off the heat or electricity, or prevents you from entering your apartment without a warrant of eviction then what they are doing is illegal.

If this happens, you can call your local police precinct. A uniformed officer will have received clear guidance on what to do as part of their training. They'll start by looking for probable cause that you are being unlawfully evicted. Then they will try to identify your landlord and get him or her to let you re-enter the unit. If they can do that they will prepare a summons to court. If they can't identify your landlord properly or if your landlord refuses to let you back into the apartment, then the officers may arrest him or her and press charges against them for trespassing, which is a misdemeanor in Illinois.

If the lockout cost you money you can also sue for damages.