🚨 DID YOU KNOW?

MUST READ, LANDLORDS & PROPERTY OWNERS 🚨

Starting January 1, 2026, Illinois landlords (yes — including Chicago) are required to add a new mandatory document to EVERY residential lease and renewal under the Safer Homes Act.

And no — this is not optional.

Here’s the breakdown 👇

🏠 What you MUST do at lease signing:

• Attach the “Summary of Rights for Safer Homes” as the FIRST page of the lease
• Every adult tenant must sign or initial EVERY page of that summary
• This applies to new leases AND renewals
• Keep it on file with your lease documents

📌 Why this matters:

This document educates tenants on important safety rights, including protections related to domestic or sexual violence, emergency lock changes, confidentiality, and protections from retaliation.

Whether you agree with it or not — the law requires disclosure.

⚠️ If you DON’T do this:

• Your lease signing can be considered non-compliant
• Tenants may be entitled to damages
• You could be responsible for court costs and attorney fees
• And yes — it can be used against you in a dispute

⚠️ What Happens If You Don’t Comply

Failing to include the Summary of Rights and get tenant signatures can be costly:

Potential Consequences

🔹 Tenant can pursue actual damages up to $2,000

🔹 OR the statutory minimum of $100 per violation

🔹 Court costs and attorney’s fees if the tenant wins a claim based on your failure to provide the summary

Even though these amounts may seem limited, fee shifting (tenant’s ability to recover attorney’s fees) can make disputes expensive and time consuming.

That’s why compliance isn’t optional — it’s a legal requirement for all written leases in Illinois as of January 1, 2026.

💡 Bottom line:

This is a paperwork requirement that protects tenants and protects you — but only if you do it correctly.

If you’re still using old lease packets or “winging it” at lease signing… this is your sign to stop.

Education is key.

Process is power.

Compliance saves you money.

📄 👉 Official Document (Summary of Rights for Safer Homes Act):

📌 Summary of Rights for Safer Homes Act (PDF)

Link: https://dhr.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/dhr/publications/documents/sfa/Summary%20of%20Rights%20for%20Safer%20Homes%20Act%20-%20Lease%20Document%20-%2010-2025.pdf?

This is the exact document you must include with leases.