What happens if a tenant breaks a lease in Illinois?
In Illinois, a landlord or the landlord’s agent must take reasonable measures to mitigate the damages recoverable against a defaulting tenant. Separately, federal law lets a servicemember end a lease early after receiving qualifying military orders. This is 735 ILCS 5/9-213.1.
| What | Illinois |
|---|---|
| Landlord’s duty to re-rent | Required by statute |
| What it means | The landlord must make reasonable efforts to re-rent |
Source
Read the statute in the Illinois Compiled Statutes (Illinois General Assembly): ilga.gov.
Checked against the statute on November 13, 2026.
This is a summary of a published statute, not legal advice. Rules change, local ordinances can add to them, and the terms of a specific lease may differ. Check the citation and speak to a lawyer before acting.
How Seayora uses this rule
Seayora keeps every lease’s term, rent and signers in one record and dates every change to it. This page states the state’s rule so a lease’s own early-termination and sublet clauses can be checked against it before the lease is signed.
Guides on this rule
- Breaking a Lease by State: What the Tenant Owes — What a tenant owes after leaving a lease early, and the 34 states whose statutes say whether the landlord must try to re-rent the home.
Compare this rule in every state
More Illinois rules
- Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in Illinois?
- How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Illinois?
- How many days does a tenant get to pay late rent in Illinois?
- How much notice must a landlord give to end a tenancy in Illinois?
- Can a landlord change the locks to force a tenant out in Illinois?
- How long does a tenant have to respond to an eviction case in Illinois?
- What are squatters’ rights in Illinois?
- What are the steps to evict a tenant for unpaid rent in Illinois?
- Is there rent control in Illinois?
- Can a landlord refuse a Section 8 voucher in Illinois?
- Can a landlord retaliate against a tenant for complaining in Illinois?
- Can a tenant repair and deduct from rent in Illinois?
- Do contractors charge sales tax in Illinois?
- Every Illinois rule on one page
The same question in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- California
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky