Illinois Landlord Selling the House
Illinois rules on landlord selling the house for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: Yes, beyond the federal PTFA. A new owner after foreclosure (mortgagee, receiver, certificate or deed holder, or sale purchaser) may end a bona fide residential lease only at the end of its term, with at least 90 days' written notice. 735 ILCS 5/9-207.5; 735 ILCS 5/15-1701(h)
The rules in Illinois
| Tenants in foreclosure | Yes, beyond the federal PTFA. A new owner after foreclosure (mortgagee, receiver, certificate or deed holder, or sale purchaser) may end a bona fide residential lease only at the end of its term, with at least 90 days' written notice. Month-to-month or week-to-week bona fide leases also require at least 90 days' written notice. An individual buyer who will live in the unit may end the lease on 90 days' notice. For occupants not named in the foreclosure: if the occupant is current on rent, was never told in writing where to pay, or made good-faith efforts to pay, any eviction order must let them stay for the shorter of 120 days after notice of the hearing or the rest of the lease (at least 30 days). Records of these eviction cases are sealed. § 15-1701: https://www.ilga.gov/Documents/legislation/ilcs/documents/073500050K15-1701.htm. A lease can still be ended for tenant default under the ordinary eviction sections (e.g., § 9-209). |
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Related questions
Illinois vs. neighboring states
| State | If the landlord sells the property | Tenants in foreclosure |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | Not verified yet | Yes, beyond the federal PTFA. A new owner after foreclosure (mortgagee, receiver, certificate or deed holder, or sale purchaser) may end a bona fide residential lease only at the end of its term, with at least 90 days' written notice. Month-to-month or week-to-week bona fide leases also require at least 90 days' written notice. An individual buyer who will live in the unit may end the lease on 90 days' notice. For occupants not named in the foreclosure: if the occupant is current on rent, was never told in writing where to pay, or made good-faith efforts to pay, any eviction order must let them stay for the shorter of 120 days after notice of the hearing or the rest of the lease (at least 30 days). Records of these eviction cases are sealed. 735 ILCS 5/9-207.5; 735 ILCS 5/15-1701(h) |
| Indiana | Not verified yet | Not verified yet |
| Iowa | When a landlord's interest ends (for example, by sale), the landlord must within a reasonable time either transfer the rental deposit (minus lawful deductions) to the successor and tell the tenant the new owner's name and address, or return the deposit to the tenant. The successor then has the landlord's rights and duties for the deposit; if the tenant does not object within 20 days after written notice of the amount transferred, the successor's duty is limited to that amount. A landlord who sells in good faith to a bona fide buyer is released from liability under the lease for events after giving the tenant written notice of the sale, unless otherwise agreed. Iowa Code §§ 562A.12(5)-(6), 562A.16(1) | Not verified yet |
| Kentucky | When a landlord sells or transfers the property, the tenant does not have to 'attorn' (formally accept the new owner) for the transfer to be valid, and a tenant who pays rent to the old owner before getting notice of the sale is not penalized for it (KRS 383.100(2)). In areas that have adopted Kentucky's landlord-tenant act, the landlord must give the tenant in writing the name and address of the manager and of the owner or owner's agent for notices, must keep that information current, and the duty extends to any successor landlord or owner (KRS 383.585). Kentucky's security-deposit statute (KRS 383.580) does not say who must hold or return the deposit after a sale. KRS 383.100(2); KRS 383.585; KRS 383.580 | Not verified yet |
| Missouri | Not verified yet | After a foreclosure sale, the new owner must give the residential tenant written notice (certified/registered mail, plus posting on the door) that the sale happened, who the new owner is, and that the tenant has at least 10 business days to leave. No eviction case can be filed within those 10 business days. The notice does not create a tenancy with the new owner. Federal PTFA rights are separate. RSMo 534.030.2-.3 |
| Wisconsin | A landlord's interest can be transferred (for example, by sale) unless the lease expressly restricts it, and the lease's terms that are not personal to the original parties stay enforceable by and against the new owner. A new owner is liable for, or can recover for, breaches that happen while it owns the property, and the same court remedies apply between the tenant and the new owner. The statute does not set a specific security-deposit transfer procedure. Wis. Stat. § 704.09(1), (3), (4) | No statute — neither the landlord-tenant chapter (ch. 704) nor the real estate foreclosure chapter (ch. 846) contains tenant-specific foreclosure protections. The federal PTFA (90-day notice; bona fide leases honored to term, with exceptions) governs. Wis. Stat. ch. 704; ch. 846 (checked) |
City rules that may add to state law
More Illinois rental law
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- Free legal help in Illinois
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Illinois Landlord Selling the House FAQ
What are tenants' rights in a foreclosure in Illinois?
Yes, beyond the federal PTFA. A new owner after foreclosure (mortgagee, receiver, certificate or deed holder, or sale purchaser) may end a bona fide residential lease only at the end of its term, with at least 90 days' written notice. Month-to-month or week-to-week bona fide leases also require at least 90 days' written notice. An individual buyer who will live in the unit may end the lease on 90 days' notice. For occupants not named in the foreclosure: if the occupant is current on rent, was never told in writing where to pay, or made good-faith efforts to pay, any eviction order must let them stay for the shorter of 120 days after notice of the hearing or the rest of the lease (at least 30 days). Records of these eviction cases are sealed. (735 ILCS 5/9-207.5; 735 ILCS 5/15-1701(h))
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.