Can a domestic violence victim end a lease early in Illinois?

In Illinois, a tenant who moves out because of a credible imminent threat of domestic or sexual violence at the premises, and gives the landlord written notice of that reason before or within 3 days of vacating, is not liable for rent for the period after vacating. The protection is an affirmative defense the tenant proves by a preponderance of the evidence in the landlord’s action for rent. Where the tenant or a household member was a victim of sexual violence on the premises, the notice must state the date of the violence, the tenant must give the landlord medical, court or police evidence or a statement from a victim services or rape crisis organization, and the violence must have occurred not more than 60 days before the notice. The tenant still owes rent for the time before vacating and giving notice. On written request with evidence of a credible imminent threat, the landlord must change the locks or let the tenant change them within 48 hours, and may charge no more than the reasonable customary price (765 ILCS 750/20). A landlord may not disclose to a prospective landlord that a tenant exercised these rights or any information the tenant provided (765 ILCS 750/27). The Act does not apply to public housing, except the tenant-based Housing Choice Voucher program (765 ILCS 750/35). This is 765 ILCS 750/15, 750/20, 750/27, 750/35.

WhatIllinois
Ending the lease earlyWritten notice within 3 days of moving out

What the statute says

“… the tenant gave written notice to the landlord prior to or within 3 days of vacating the premises that the reason for vacating the premises was because of a credible imminent threat of domestic or sexual violence …”

Quoted word for word from the section’s text.

Source

765 ILCS 750/15, 750/20, 750/27, 750/35

Read the statute in the Illinois Compiled Statutes (Illinois General Assembly): ilga.gov.

Checked against the statute on November 15, 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.

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