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| Public Act 097-0470 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning civil law.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 5. The Landlord and Tenant Act is amended by adding | ||||
Section 15 as follows: | ||||
(765 ILCS 705/15 new) | ||||
Sec. 15. Changing or rekeying of the dwelling unit lock. | ||||
(a) A lessor of a dwelling unit shall comply with the | ||||
provisions of this Section regarding the changing or rekeying | ||||
of the dwelling unit lock. For the purposes of this Section, | ||||
"dwelling unit" means a room or suite of rooms used for human | ||||
habitation and for which a lessor and a lessee have a written | ||||
lease agreement. | ||||
(b) After a dwelling unit has been vacated and on or before | ||||
the day that a new lessee takes possession of the dwelling | ||||
unit, the lessor shall change or rekey the immediate access to | ||||
the lessee's individual dwelling unit. For the purposes of this | ||||
Section, "change or rekey" means: | ||||
(1) replacing the lock; | ||||
(2) replacing the locking or cylinder mechanism in the | ||||
lock so that a different key is used to unlock the lock; | ||||
(3) changing the combination on a combination or | ||||
digital lock; | ||||
(4) changing an electronic lock so that the means or | ||
method of unlocking the lock is changed from the | ||
immediately prior tenant; or | ||
(5) otherwise changing the means of gaining access to | ||
the lessee's locked individual dwelling unit so that it is | ||
not identical to the prior lessee's means of gaining access | ||
to the lessee's locked individual dwelling unit. | ||
(c) If a lessor does not change or rekey the lock as | ||
required in this Section, and a theft occurs at that dwelling | ||
unit that is attributable to the lessor's failure to change or | ||
rekey the lock, the landlord is liable for any damages from the | ||
theft that occurs as a result of the lessor's failure to comply | ||
with this Section. | ||
(d) The provisions of this Section do not apply if the | ||
lessee has obtained the right to change or rekey the dwelling | ||
unit lock pursuant to a written lease agreement. | ||
(e) The provisions of this Section do not apply to (i) an | ||
apartment rental in an apartment building with 4 units or less | ||
when one of the units is occupied by the owner or (ii) the | ||
rental of a room in a private home that is owner-occupied. | ||
(f) This Section applies only in counties having a | ||
population of more than 3,000,000.
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Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January | ||
1, 2012.
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