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Legal Information: Illinois

Housing Laws

Updated: 
January 23, 2024

Can my landlord tell any future landlords that I broke my lease early because I was a victim of domestic or sexual violence?

If you break your lease because of one of the qualifying circumstances and you gave your landlord the proper notice, then your landlord is not allowed to tell other landlords who may be calling your landlord for a reference that you broke your lease because you were a victim of domestic or sexual violence.1 If your landlord violates this law, then you can sue him/her in court for damages of up to $2,000 as well as for your attorney’s fees and court costs.2

1 765 ILCS 750/27(a)
2 765 ILCS 750/29

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