The 2026 Chicago Residential Lease is now available on our Forms & Contracts webpage.
Changes to this year’s lease include:
- NEW DISCLOSURE: Summary of Rights for Safer Homes Act. This Illinois law went into effect on January 1, 2026, and it requires landlords to provide a summary of housing protection rights to all Illinois residential tenants as the first page of their written lease. This requirement applies to new leases and renewal leases. As stated within the Act, its purpose is to promote the State’s interest in enabling more victims of domestic or sexual violence and their families to become timely aware of the existing housing protections they have under 6 Illinois statutes and how to exercise their rights under these statutes. By requiring that a summary of these rights appear on page 1 of each residential lease, more tenants will become timely aware of these rights and how to exercise them. This will lead to safer homes and greater financial security for more victims of domestic or sexual violence and their families.
- New optional terms for negotiating tenant brokerage compensation were added to page 1 of the lease. If tenant brokerage compensation is a negotiated term of the lease, then a new paragraph 40, titled Brokerage Compensation will apply.
- Formatting enhancements that provide an expanded and larger Additional Agreements and Covenants write-in section.
- NEW under Rules and Regulations: A new rule has been added to the templated Rules & Regulations of the lease. New Rule #2 prohibits smoking in the property unless authorized in the lease.
The Chicago Residential Lease is an excellent member benefit for all Chicago REALTORS® and their landlords. This lease is vetted each year by practitioners and attorneys to ensure compliance with Chicago ordinance. It is well recognized by judges and attorneys across the city, and we highly recommend use without alteration. Members should cease using any earlier version of the Chicago Residential Lease. Ensure you are using the new lease, which is fillable, available here.
The 2026 Exclusive Rental Listing Agreement is also available to download on our Forms & Contracts page. This Agreement is updated to include the 2026 Security Deposit Interest Rate Sheet.
Please note the 2025 lease document was designed to expire at midnight on Dec. 31. This was meant to protect members from using old leases, which could cause liability to themselves and/or their clients.
A reminder that the Chicago Residential Lease, and all of the Chicago Association of REALTORS®’s forms and contracts, are an exclusive member benefit for use only by Chicago Association of REALTORS® members or those who are party to a transaction facilitated by a Chicago Association of REALTORS® member. Distributing or posting any of the Chicago Association of REALTORS®’s forms and contracts is a copyright infringement and a violation of the terms of use of our forms.