Illinois Security Deposit Demand Letter Template

A plain-language demand letter template organized around Illinois's security deposit laws, with a link to 765 ILCS 710 (Security Deposit Return Act) and the usual return timing to verify for your facts.

Editable version

Copy and customize the free sample below. If you want your facts and citations assembled into a finished PDF, choose a personalized letter instead.

Reviewed: 2026-08-11

How sources are checked →

45/30 days

Usual return period

765 ILCS 710 (Security Deposit Return Act)

Primary Statute

Twice the deposit amount due, plus court costs and reasonable attorney fees, after a court finds both a refusal or bad-faith statement and a failure or refusal to return the amount due on time

Possible remedies and conditions

Free Illinois demand letter template

Copy the structure, replace every placeholder, and check the dates, amounts, and supporting records before you send it.

Editable sample

Use this free template when

You want a first draft you can send yourself.
You already know the landlord, property, timeline, and amount you are claiming.
You are comfortable filling in dates, disputed deductions, and supporting facts manually.

Before you send it

Enter your exact dates in the calculator because the legal start date and applicable exceptions can change the result.
765 ILCS 710/1(a)-(b) - Property-damage deductions generally require paid receipts or permitted estimates and follow-up receipts; subsection (b) provides an alternative when receipts cannot be produced through no fault of the lessor Request any missing records that support the amount kept.
Choose a sending method that fits your documentation needs, and keep both the letter copy and any postal record.

Illinois law summary

Check the deadline, penalty, receipts, and inspection rules.

Illinois deadline calculator

Review a date calculated from your facts before you mail the letter.

How to write a demand letter

Use this if you want the anatomy of the letter before editing the sample.

Certified mail guide

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Under 765 ILCS 710/1(a), a property-damage statement and supporting records are generally due within 30 days after the later of vacancy or the end of the tenant's right of possession. If no compliant statement and records are furnished, the full deposit is generally due within 45 days after vacancy. The applicable date has passed, and I have not received the accounting or amount due. Please return $[AMOUNT] and provide any statement and records on which you rely. The remedies in § 1(c) depend on the court findings specified there; I reserve any remedy supported by the facts.

Replace every bracketed placeholder with your facts, dates, deductions, and requested amount before sending.

Want your answers assembled into a finished PDF?

Answer the guided questions to create a personalized PDF, then send it yourself or include one First-Class mailing.

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What to include in an Illinois demand letter

130-45 day return deadline
2Property-damage statement with receipts or permitted estimates
3Interest required on deposits (25+ units, 6+ months)
4Conditional double-deposit remedy, costs, and attorney fees under § 1(c)
5Chicago RLTO may apply separately

What the personalized PDF includes

Your name, address, and landlord details

Relevant Illinois source citations

The deductions and disputed amounts you enter

Relevant remedy language kept conditional on the required facts

A requested response date you select

Readable PDF format

Frequently asked questions

Questions to check before sending a Illinois demand letter.

How long does my Illinois landlord have to return my security deposit?

30 days for a damage statement with receipts or estimates; 45 days to return the deposit when no damage claim is made. Use that period as a starting point, then check the exact trigger, exceptions, and current official source for your dates.

What should I check before using this Illinois template?

Confirm every name, address, date, amount, deduction, requested record, citation, and response date before sending the letter.

How should I send a Illinois demand letter?

Choose a delivery method that fits the records you want to keep, and save the final letter with any acceptance or delivery record.

Check the source and deadline

Check the state rule, deadline details, and common deduction issues before relying on a template.

Source check

Review Illinois security deposit law summary

Confirm deadline, documentation, and penalty rules before sending.