Illinois · Security Deposit: Damage vs Wear

Illinois Security Deposits: Wear vs Damage

Short answer
Shared

Illinois landlords must itemize deposit deductions within 30 days or refund in full within 45 days, and can't charge for normal wear and tear, under 765 ILCS 710/1.

High confidence · Verified Sep 19, 2026 · 1 source

What to do next

What to do next

  1. Put the repair request in writing

    Send it to the landlord, date it, and keep a copy.

Work through the full repair checklist

If the repair is yours to pay

Get more than one quote before you agree to a price, and ask the contractor to confirm where the property line and the public side begin.

Repair-request & landlord/tenant forms (LawDepot)

Templates for a notice to repair, security-deposit demand, and more.

Partner link. Who Pays the Repair? may earn a commission if you request a quote or sign up, at no cost to you. It never changes who we say pays.

Responsibility Boundary

Default rule and exceptions

Illinois landlords who withhold any part of a deposit for property damage must send an itemized statement (with receipts) within 30 days of the tenant vacating, or refund the full deposit within 45 days, and any lease-specified cleaning/repair costs must be for damage beyond normal wear and tear (Security Deposit Return Act, 765 ILCS 710/1).

PartyWhat they are responsible for
LandlordSend an itemized statement with receipts within 30 days of move-out, or refund the full deposit within 45 days if none is sent.
TenantIs liable only for lease-specified costs that exceed normal wear and tear, not ordinary deterioration.
ExceptionsNone on record

What the source says

Last verified against the primary source on Sep 19, 2026.

If no such statement and receipts, or copies thereof, are furnished to the lessee as required by this Section, the lessor shall return the security deposit in full within 45 days of the date that the lessee vacated the premises.
765 ILCS 710/1(a) (30-day itemized statement / 45-day full refund if none given), checked Sep 13, 2026
Costs specified in a written lease shall be for damage beyond normal wear and tear and reasonable to restore the leased premises to the same condition as at the time the lease began.
765 ILCS 710/1(a) (lease-specified costs must exceed normal wear and tear), checked Sep 13, 2026

Common questions

Who pays for security deposit: damage vs wear in Statewide, IL?

Responsibility is shared. Send an itemized statement with receipts within 30 days of move-out, or refund the full deposit within 45 days if none is sent.

What is this based on for Statewide, IL?

This verdict is sourced to 765 ILCS 710/1(a) (30-day itemized statement / 45-day full refund if none given) and 2 sources in total, each independently re-checked before publication.

Sources

  1. 765 ILCS 710/1(a) (30-day itemized statement / 45-day full refund if none given)statute · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-13
  2. 765 ILCS 710/1(a) (lease-specified costs must exceed normal wear and tear)statute · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-13
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