Rental Application in Illinois

A rental application that collects what landlords commonly ask for. Follow your state's limits on application fees and fair-housing rules: ask every applicant the same questions.

What Illinois law says

Application / screening fees	Reusable screening reports: if an applicant provides a qualifying reusable tenant screening report (prepared within the last 30 days by a consumer reporting agency, free for the landlord to access, covering the landlord's criteria), the landlord may not charge an application screening fee or a fee to access the report (since Jan. 1, 2025). For leases entered on or after Jan. 1, 2027, rental application fees (including background checks) are capped at $50; a landlord may pass through a higher actual third-party background-check cost only if it paid the cost up front and bills the applicant with receipts within 14 days (otherwise the fee is waived). Fees added on top of the application fee that duplicate screening costs or are unrelated to screening are banned. Section 35 does not apply to owner-occupied premises with 6 or fewer units. Local rules may be stricter. No statewide refund rule for application fees was found. Source: 765 ILCS 705/30 (P.A. 103-840, eff. 1-1-25); 765 ILCS 705/35(c)(1)-(2) (P.A. 104-479, eff. 1-1-27)
Statewide ban on refusing Section 8 / source of income	Yes. Since Jan. 1, 2023 the Illinois Human Rights Act bars refusing to rent, discriminatory terms, discriminatory ads or application forms, and screening criteria with a discriminatory effect based on 'source of income', defined as the lawful manner by which a person supports themselves and their dependents. Definition: https://www.ilga.gov/Documents/legislation/ilcs/documents/077500050K1-103.htm. Source: 775 ILCS 5/1-103(O-5); 775 ILCS 5/3-102 (P.A. 102-896, eff. 1-1-23)

Application / screening fees

Reusable screening reports: if an applicant provides a qualifying reusable tenant screening report (prepared within the last 30 days by a consumer reporting agency, free for the landlord to access, covering the landlord's criteria), the landlord may not charge an application screening fee or a fee to access the report (since Jan. 1, 2025). For leases entered on or after Jan. 1, 2027, rental application fees (including background checks) are capped at $50; a landlord may pass through a higher actual third-party background-check cost only if it paid the cost up front and bills the applicant with receipts within 14 days (otherwise the fee is waived). Fees added on top of the application fee that duplicate screening costs or are unrelated to screening are banned.

Section 35 does not apply to owner-occupied premises with 6 or fewer units. Local rules may be stricter. No statewide refund rule for application fees was found.

Source: 765 ILCS 705/30 (P.A. 103-840, eff. 1-1-25); 765 ILCS 705/35(c)(1)-(2) (P.A. 104-479, eff. 1-1-27)

Statewide ban on refusing Section 8 / source of income

Yes. Since Jan. 1, 2023 the Illinois Human Rights Act bars refusing to rent, discriminatory terms, discriminatory ads or application forms, and screening criteria with a discriminatory effect based on 'source of income', defined as the lawful manner by which a person supports themselves and their dependents.

Definition: https://www.ilga.gov/Documents/legislation/ilcs/documents/077500050K1-103.htm.

Source: 775 ILCS 5/1-103(O-5); 775 ILCS 5/3-102 (P.A. 102-896, eff. 1-1-23)

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RENTAL APPLICATION — [rental address]

Applicant name: [applicant name] Phone: [phone] Email: [email]

Current address: [current address] How long: [time at current address] Current rent: $[current rent]

Current landlord: [current landlord name and phone]

Previous address and landlord: [previous address and landlord]

Employer: [employer] Position: [position] Monthly income: $[monthly income] Other income (including housing vouchers or benefits): [other income]

Other adults who will live in the unit: [other adult occupants] Number of minors: [number of minors]

Pets or assistance animals: [pets] Vehicles: [vehicles]

Application fee: $[application fee] (see your state's rule above). Screening company used: [screening company name and contact]

I authorize the landlord to verify this information and obtain a tenant screening or credit report. Signature: ____________ Date: [date signed]

Rental Application for other states · Illinois tenant rights

General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.