Bill prohibiting landlord retaliation heads to Pritzker’s desk

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — A bill is heading to Governor Pritzker’s desk that would protect people from retaliation by their landlords. But not everyone is on board with it.

The Landlord Retaliation Act would prohibit landlords from knowingly terminating or refusing to renew a lease, increasing rent, decreasing service or threatening a lawsuit after tenants seek assistance to ensure their housing is safe and habitable. Protected actions by the tenant include:

• Making a requests for repairs
• Making a complaint of code violations
• Organizing a union or being a member of one
• Testifying in an official proceeding
• Seeking assistance from elected officials
• Exercising any other right provided by law

“With fear of retaliation, tenants would rather stay in inadequate living conditions than speak up – this cannot continue,” said State Senator Karina Villa (D-West Chicago), the bill’s chief sponsor in the Senate. “Tenants spend their hard earned money on rent. At minimum, they should be confident when taking actions to ensure that their home is properly maintained.”

“These unjust methods of retaliation lead to housing instability, financial insecurity and ultimately homelessness which further harms our communities,” Villa added. “It is the responsibility of landlords to maintain a property and we must protect tenants who are simply holding their landlords accountable.”

The Illinois Rental Property Owners Association stands opposed to the bill, believing it would create a slippery slope that would result in fewer options for affordable housing.

“Housing providers are presumed guilty of retaliation if they raise rent, do not renew a lease, or even change terms one year after a tenant requests a repair,” Paul Arena, the association’s Director of Legislative Affairs, explained in a statement. “This forces housing providers to fight expensive legal battles to prove their innocence.”

Arena said this presumption of guilt would discourage landlords from entering or remaining in the market. Competition would drop, leading to higher rents and less incentive for property upkeep.

This, Arena suggested, would leave tenants with fewer choices and potentially lower-quality housing.

The Illinois Rental Property Owners Association also claimed that they had offered the bill’s sponsors compromise language to incorporate, but were rebuffed.

The Landlord Retaliation Act passed the Senate on Wednesday 34-19 with two present and four not voting. It passed the House on Saturday 63-38 with one present and four not voting.

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