Housing (Renters)

Amends the Housing Authorities Act. Provides that, unless otherwise required by federal law or regulation, a housing authority shall not establish or implement any rules, policies, or procedures that impose time limits or work requirements as a condition of initial or continued eligibility for any rent subsidy or assistance provided to qualifying tenants of the housing authority or to qualifying individuals through any rent subsidy or other housing assistance program administered by the housing authority. Permits a housing authority to establish, implement, or encourage an applicant or recipient of a rent subsidy or assistance to participate in a voluntary employment or job training program if the program: (1) does not impact the applicant's or recipient's initial or continued eligibility for the rent subsidy or assistance; and (2) has one of the specified goals for program participants, including, but not limited to, (i) increasing personal income, (ii) homeownership, or (iii) expanding employment options.

Amends the Mobile Home Landlord and Tenant Rights Act. Provides that a park owner shall notify a manufactured home owner in the park of a rent or fee increase if the increase is in excess of 3% above the current rent or in the Consumer Price Index, whichever is greater. Provides that if the rent or fee increase is greater than the percentage rate of rent in the Consumer Price Index, the park owner shall provide a written justification for the increase and make documentation available to all residents that shows the costs and commencement of work that justifies the rent or fee increase. Provides that in order for an increase in costs to justify such a rent or fee increase, for costs incurred for ordinary maintenance, property or real estate taxes, and utilities not directly paid by the manufactured home owner, the park owner must demonstrate that the work performed was necessary to meet the park owner's warranty of habitability obligations and demonstrate that the rent or fee increase imposed was no more than was necessary to cover the actual and reasonable cost of the work performed.

Creates the Let the People Lift the Ban Act. Includes legislative findings and purpose. Defines terms. Excludes specified types of residences and occupancies from the Act. Includes provisions relating to rental agreements, tenant and landlord rights and obligations, tenant and landlord remedies, security deposits, retaliatory conduct, lockouts, and conflict with other provisions of law. Amends the Rent Control Preemption Act. Provides that a prohibition on a unit of local government enacting, maintaining, or enforcing an ordinance or resolution that would have the effect of controlling the amount of rent charged for leasing private residential or commercial property does not apply if the voters of the unit of local government have approved a referendum allowing rent control. Adds provisions about local rent control regulation, including regulation within a district, precinct, ward, or other similar subdivision of a unit of local government. Changes the home rule preemption of the Act to concurrent exercise of home rule powers by a unit rather than exclusive exercise by the State. Repeals the Retaliatory Eviction Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Counties Code and Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that a county or municipality may not adopt, enforce, or implement an ordinance, resolution, policy, program, or other regulation affecting a tenancy that (1) imposes or threatens to impose a penalty against a resident, property owner, tenant, landlord, or other person solely as a consequence of contact with a law enforcement agency or other emergency service, (2) requires or promotes a property owner or landlord to do, or imposes a penalty on a property owner or landlord for the failure to do, specified things, (3) defines as a nuisance, any contact with a law enforcement agency or other emergency service by a tenant or any request by a tenant, landlord, resident, or property owner for emergency assistance, (4) requires a tenant to obtain a certificate of occupancy as a condition of tenancy or turning on utilities, or (5) establishes, maintains, or promotes a registry of tenants for the purposes of discouraging or excluding a tenant on the registry from rental housing within the county or municipality. Allows an aggrieved party to file an action in circuit court, including for injunctive relief, monetary relief, attorney's fees, and costs, against a county or municipality to enforce the provisions. Provides that nothing in the provisions shall be construed to allow an aggrieved party to file or sustain an action against a landlord, owner, management company, leasing agent, or real estate agent or any other person or entity other than the county or municipality. Amends the Housing Authorities Act. Adds similar provisions concerning housing authorities. Defines terms. Repeals existing provisions about ordinances penalizing tenants who contact police or other emergency services in the Illinois Municipal Code and Counties Code. Limits the concurrent exercise of home rule powers. Effective immediately.

Creates the Rental Fee Transparency and Fairness Act. Provides that unless otherwise allowed under the Act, a landlord's agent may not impose any fee on, or collect any fee from, a tenant related to the rental of residential real property, and any real estate salesperson or real estate broker who publishes a listing for a rental of residential real property with the permission or authorization of the landlord for the property may not impose any fee on, or collect any fee from, a tenant related to the rental of the listed property. Prohibits a person conditioning the rental of residential property on a tenant engaging any agent. Provides that all fees to be paid by a tenant be explicitly contained in the first page of a lease agreement and the itemized disclosure of the fees must include a short description of them. Provides that a tenant is not liable for any fees not so disclosed. Prohibits a lease from containing a clause that: (i) assigns a late fee (not to exceed $25) for the late payment of rent if payment occurs within 7 days of the required date of payment although a lease may provide for a grace period longer than 7 days; (ii) assigns to a tenant an administrative fee for the renewal of a lease agreement; (iii) assigns to a tenant a fee for the modification of a lease; (iv) assigns to a tenant a fee for contacting the building owner or the property manager; (v) assigns to a tenant a fee or penalty for an eviction notice or an eviction action; and (vi) assigns a fee to a tenant for pet occupancy for the duration of the lease. Makes other changes. Provides that the changes to residential lease applies to all lease agreements entered into after the effective date of the Act. Preempts home rule.

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure to provide that illegal possession of land during a 7-year period may not be used for a claim of adverse possession. Amends the Landlord and Tenant Act. Provides that no person has the right or legal standing to occupy or remain on or in any real property, residence, or structure if the person has no written property interest under a written lease or rental agreement with the owner of the property listed in county tax records or the owner's agent; no documentation of payment of rent made to the owner of the property or the owner's agent; or otherwise fails to provide any evidence of an oral or written agreement in which a property interest is claimed. Provides that all persons legally occupying a property, residence, or structure shall be listed by name and date of birth on a lease, rental agreement, or rental application associated with the lease or rental agreement or provide evidence that the person is an invitee of a lessee or authorized occupant of the property. Provides that no subleasing shall be allowed or deemed as legal in contrast to a lease or rental agreement that specifically prohibits subleases. Provides that a sublease made in violation of a lease or rental agreement shall not establish legal standing to occupy or remain on or in any real property, residence, or structure by the sublessee and the sublessee shall vacate the property after receiving notice from the property owner of record to depart.

Creates the Prohibition of Algorithmics in Rent Act. Provides that in setting the amount of rent to be charged to a tenant for the occupancy of a residential premises, including determining any change in the amount of rent to be charged for the renewed occupancy of a residential premises, a landlord shall not employ, use, or rely upon, or cause another person to employ, use, or rely upon, an algorithmic device that uses, incorporates, or was trained with nonpublic competitor data. Defines "algorithmic device" to mean a device that uses one or more algorithms to perform calculations of data, including data concerning local or statewide rent amounts being charged to tenants by landlords, for the purpose of advising a landlord concerning the amount of rent that the landlord may consider charging a tenant. Provides that this definition does not include (i) any report published periodically, but no more frequently than monthly, by a trade association that receives renter data and publishes it in an aggregated and anonymous manner; or (ii) a product used for the purpose of establishing rent or income limits in accordance with the affordable housing program guidelines of a local government, the State, the federal government, or other political subdivision. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to make a corresponding change. Provides that any person who violates the Prohibition of Algorithmics in Rent Act commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.

Creates the Preventing Algorithmic Rent Fixing in the Rental Housing Market Act. Provides that a real estate lessor, or any agent or subcontractor of a real estate lessor, shall not subscribe to, contract with, or otherwise exchange anything of value in return for the services of a real estate service provider. Provides that a real estate service provider shall not facilitate an agreement to not compete between real estate lessors with respect to residential dwelling units. Provides that a violation of the provisions of the Act is an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides for a private right of action. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to make a conforming change.

SB 1260 (Rent Control Preemption Act) repeals the existing Rent Control Preemption Act in Illinois. This bill removes a state law that prevented local governments from enacting their own rent control policies. By repealing this preemption, the bill directly affects cities and counties, enabling them to implement local rent control measures for landlords and tenants within their jurisdictions. The legislation itself does not create new rent control rules but eliminates a barrier to local policy-making.

Amends the Landlord and Tenant Act. Prohibits a landlord or lessor from refusing to rent to, deny housing to, or impose conditions on a lessee or tenant based on the breed of a dog or dogs in residential housing that contains more than 3 units of housing. Provides that nothing in the Act affects the ability of a unit of local government to enforce provisions of the Animal Control Act regarding a dangerous dog or vicious dog. Provides that if a lessor or landlord violates these provisions, upon request of the affected lessee or tenant, the Illinois Housing Development Authority must investigate the matter. Provides that if the Authority finds that a lessor or landlord has violated the Act, it must commence an action or proceeding in the circuit court of the county in which the premises are situated to stop the violation either by mandamus or injunction. Provides that the amendatory Act applies to a renewal or modification of residential leases that contain more than 3 units of housing after the effective date of the Act and for new residential leases entered into after that date.