Illinois Required Landlord Disclosures: What You Must Tell Tenants

Providing the correct written disclosures is a fundamental part of the leasing process in Illinois. Omitting required attachments can render a lease voidable by the tenant or invite severe regulatory fines.

Disclaimer: This guide provides general legal information for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Always consult a licensed attorney in Illinois for advice specific to your situation. Information last verified: March 2026.

Federal Disclosures

Lead-Based Paint

In accordance with federal law, landlords renting properites built before 1978 must:

• Disclose all known lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards in the unit.
• Attach a lead warning statement to the lease.
• Provide tenants with the EPA-approved information pamphlet, "Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home."

Statewide Illinois Disclosures

1. Radon Hazard Disclosure

Under the Illinois Radon Awareness Act (420 ILCS 46), landlords are not required to test for radon. However, if a landlord does conduct a test and the results reveal a radon hazard, they are legally bound to disclose this hazard in writing to any prospective or current tenants.

2. General Flood Disclosure (Effective 2025)

A significant update to Illinois law requires landlords to disclose flood risks in writing before signing a lease. The disclosure must state:

1. Whether the property is located in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area.
2. Whether the property has experienced flooding in the last 10 years (and the frequency of that flooding). Failure to provide this disclosure can allow a tenant to break their lease and sue the landlord for damages if flooding later damages their property.

3. Shared Utilities / Master Meter

If a tenant's utility meter measures electricity, gas, or water usage for areas outside of their specific unit (such as common areas, laundry rooms, or other units), the landlord must disclose this in the lease. They must clearly explain how the utility bill is divided and provide past utility bills upon request.

4. Concession Disclosures

If a landlord is offering a rent concession (e.g., "first month free"), Illinois law mandates that the lease must clearly bear the words "Concession Granted" to ensure the tenant understands the actual long-term monthly financial obligation.

Local Ordinance Disclosures

Different municipalities carry varying heavy disclosure requirements.

Chicago (CRLTO)

Landlords operating in Chicago must supply tenants with several unique documents:

• A summary of the CRLTO itself.
• Information regarding security deposit interest.
• Information regarding bed bug protocols and reporting.
• Contact information of the property owner/manager who is authorized to receive legal notices.
• A disclosure of any pending building code violations against the property.

Suburban Cook County (RTLO)

The RTLO requires similar extensive disclosures to Chicago, including owner contact details and a summary of the tenant rights outlined in the ordinance.

Best Practices

Always include these disclosures as explicit addenda attached to the standard lease agreement. Require the tenant to initial each separate disclosure to document that they were provided and reviewed.

How Landager Helps

Landager’s leasing flow makes integrating these disclosures seamless. Property managers can append standardized addenda to varying properties, requiring tenant e-signatures at the point of lease execution.

Back to Illinois Landlord-Tenant Laws Overview.