103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB4768

 

Introduced 2/6/2024, by Rep. Will Guzzardi

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act
735 ILCS 5/9-106.4 new
765 ILCS 720/Act rep.

    Creates the Landlord Retaliation Act. Declares that it is against the public policy of the State for a landlord to take retaliatory action against a tenant. Prohibits a landlord from knowingly terminating a tenancy, increasing rent, decreasing services, bringing or threatening to bring a lawsuit against a tenant for possessing or refusing to renew a lease or tenancy because the tenant has in good faith has taken certain actions, including but not limited to (i) complaining of code violations applicable to the premises to the relevant governmental agency responsible for enforcement of a building, housing, health, or similar code; (ii) complaining of a building, housing, health, or similar code violation, or an illegal landlord practice to a community organization or the news media; or (iii) complaining or requesting the landlord to make repairs to the premises as required by a building code, health ordinance, other regulation, or the residential rental agreement. Creates remedies for violation by a landlord including damages, punitive damages, or recovering possession of the premises. Creates an affirmative defense under the Code of Civil Procedure in eviction actions if a landlord violates the Landlord Retaliation Act. Repeals the Retaliatory Eviction Act. Makes other changes.


LRB103 37572 JRC 67698 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB4768LRB103 37572 JRC 67698 b

1    AN ACT concerning civil law.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5Landlord Retaliation Act.
 
6    Section 5. Prohibition on retaliatory conduct by landlord.
7It is declared to be against public policy of the State for a
8landlord to take retaliatory action against a tenant. A
9landlord may not knowingly terminate a tenancy, increase rent,
10decrease services, bring or threaten to bring a lawsuit
11against a tenant for possession or refuse to renew a lease or
12tenancy because the tenant has in good faith done any of the
13following:
14        (1) complained of code violations applicable to the
15    premises to the relevant governmental agency, elected
16    representative, or public official charged with
17    responsibility for enforcement of a building, housing,
18    health, or similar code;
19        (2) complained of a building, housing, health, or
20    similar code violation or an illegal landlord practice to
21    a community organization or the news media;
22        (3) sought the assistance of a community organization
23    or the news media to remedy a code violation or illegal

 

 

HB4768- 2 -LRB103 37572 JRC 67698 b

1    landlord practice;
2        (4) complained or requested the landlord to make
3    repairs to the premises as required by a building code,
4    health ordinance, other regulation, or the residential
5    rental agreement;
6        (5) organized or become a member of a tenants' union
7    or similar organization;
8        (6) testified in any court or administrative
9    proceeding concerning the condition of the premises; or
10        (7) exercised any right or remedy provided by law.
 
11    Section 10. Remedies for violation of this Act. If the
12landlord acts in violation of this Act, the tenant has a
13defense in any retaliatory action against the tenant, and a
14landlord shall be subject to a civil action for damages and
15other appropriate relief, including, but not limited to, the
16following remedies:
17        (1) terminate the rental agreement and, if the rental
18    agreement is terminated, the landlord shall return all
19    security and interest recoverable under the Security
20    Deposit Return Act and all prepaid rent;
21        (2) recover possession of the premises if the landlord
22    has dispossessed, threatened to dispossess, or is in the
23    process of dispossessing;
24        (3) recovery of an amount equal to and not more than 3
25    months' rent or 3 times the damages sustained by the

 

 

HB4768- 3 -LRB103 37572 JRC 67698 b

1    tenant, whichever is greater, and reasonable attorney's
2    fees;
3        (4) punitive damages in an amount of not less than
4    $100 nor more than $2,000 for each retaliatory act in
5    which the lessor or agent has been guilty of fraud,
6    oppression, or malice with respect to that act.
 
7    Section 15. Rebuttable presumption. In an action by or
8against the tenant, if within one year before the alleged act
9of retaliation there is evidence that the retaliation was
10against tenant's conduct that is protected under this Act,
11that evidence creates a rebuttable presumption that the
12landlord's conduct was retaliatory.
 
13    Section 90. The Code of Civil Procedure is amended by
14adding Section 9-106.4 as follows:
 
15    (735 ILCS 5/9-106.4 new)
16    Sec. 9-106.4. Affirmative defenses for protected actions
17under the Landlord Retaliation Act. It is an affirmative
18defense to an action maintained under this Article if the
19court finds that the tenant has engaged in an action protected
20under the Landlord Retaliation Act.
 
21    (765 ILCS 720/Act rep.)
22    Section 95. The Retaliatory Eviction Act is repealed.