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How Long Does a Landlord Have to Fix Something in Illinois?

If your landlord won't make a repair in Illinois and Chicago you're required to wait fourteen days before taking matters into your own hands.


Are your standards in your apartment not being met? Anything from chipping paint to stagnant water might actually be your landlord's responsibility to fix, and if you make the request carefully they need to address your concerns within two weeks according to the Illinois Residential Tenants' Right to Repair Act and the Chicago Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance.

The Chicago law says you need to wait fourteen days for any type of repair request at all - no matter how serious - so you can assume that this is the required notice for everything.

That said, the required waiting period is probably less time for anything that makes your apartment unfit for living in and violates the Illinois warranty of habitability. That includes heat, hot water, electricity, or any structural defect that fails to keep out vermin or the weather.

If the problem is serious and expensive, then you'll probably end up abandoning the rental entirely. If it can be fixed for less than a month of rent (and your landlord is ignoring you) you should hire a contractor and have them fix it.

The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice.