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Get your security deposit back in Illinois

Your landlord must act with the itemized statement due within 30 days and the refund within 45 days of termination (properties of 5 or more units) under 765 ILCS 710/1 (Security Deposit Return Act). If they missed it, a statute-cited demand letter is the fastest first move.

45 days
to return or itemize
2×
potential damages on wrongful withholding
$29
letter + certified mail, one-time
Start my Illinois letter →

One flat fee. No subscription. Not a law firm.

What Illinois law says

Deadline to return / itemizewith the itemized statement due within 30 days and the refund within 45 days of termination (properties of 5 or more units)
Statute765 ILCS 710/1 (Security Deposit Return Act) — read the official text
Itemized deduction statementRequired if any portion is withheld
Exposure for wrongful withholdingBad-faith violations can make the landlord liable for twice the deposit plus attorney's fees and costs.
Worth knowingChicago's RLTO imposes stricter rules and higher penalties inside the city (interest, 2x + fees).

This is general legal information about 765 ILCS 710/1 (Security Deposit Return Act), not legal advice about your situation. Statutes contain conditions and exceptions, and legislatures amend them — always check the official text linked above.

What that can mean in dollars

Example: $1,500 deposit wrongfully withheld in full → exposure of up to $3,000 plus attorney’s fees.

Most landlords understand this math, which is why a letter that cites 765 ILCS 710/1 (Security Deposit Return Act) and states the deadline they missed is often enough to get a check without going to court.

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How your Illinois letter works

1. Answer a few questions

Your deposit amount, move-out date, landlord's address, and what happened. About 3 minutes.

2. We prepare the letter

A formal demand letter citing 765 ILCS 710/1 (Security Deposit Return Act), the 45-day deadline, and the remedies the statute provides.

3. We mail it certified

Printed and sent by USPS Certified Mail with tracking — your proof of delivery if this ends up in small claims court.

Start my letter — $29

Illinois deposit questions

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Illinois?
Under 765 ILCS 710/1 (Security Deposit Return Act), the landlord generally must act with the itemized statement due within 30 days and the refund within 45 days of termination (properties of 5 or more units). If the landlord keeps any portion, an itemized written statement of deductions is required. This is general legal information — the statute contains conditions and exceptions.
What happens if my landlord misses the Illinois deadline?
Bad-faith violations can make the landlord liable for twice the deposit plus attorney's fees and costs. A written demand letter that cites 765 ILCS 710/1 (Security Deposit Return Act) puts the landlord on notice that you know the deadline has passed and what the statute allows you to pursue.
Do I need a lawyer to send a demand letter in Illinois?
No. A demand letter is something any tenant can send on their own behalf. Our service prepares the letter from the facts you provide and the current text of 765 ILCS 710/1 (Security Deposit Return Act), and mails it by USPS Certified Mail so you have proof of delivery. If your dispute is complex or high-value, talking to a licensed Illinois attorney is a sensible next step — many take deposit cases because several statutes shift attorney's fees to the landlord.