Illinois 5-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit — Template

INFORMATIONAL ONLY — NOT LEGAL ADVICE. This template is for general reference and does not constitute legal advice. Have any notice reviewed by an Illinois-licensed attorney before serving it. Under Illinois law (735 ILCS 5/9-209), a landlord must demand payment or possession in writing and give the tenant five days to comply before filing an eviction action for non-payment of rent. For properties in the City of Chicago, the Chicago Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (RLTO, Chicago Municipal Code §5-12) imposes additional requirements on landlords beyond state law, including required tenant disclosures and specific notice content requirements.

Original Message

You owe rent for this month and have not paid. Pay in 5 days or I am starting eviction.

Professional Version

FIVE-DAY NOTICE TO PAY RENT OR QUIT POSSESSION

Date: [DATE]

To: [TENANT FULL NAME(S)]
Premises: [FULL PROPERTY ADDRESS, INCLUDING UNIT NUMBER], [CITY], Illinois [ZIP CODE]

You are hereby notified that there is now due and owing to the undersigned landlord, from you as tenant of the above-described premises, the sum of $[AMOUNT DUE] for rent for the period of [PERIOD].

You are hereby demanded to pay said rent or surrender possession of said premises within FIVE (5) DAYS from the date of service of this notice.

Unless payment in full is received or possession surrendered within five days, the landlord will terminate your tenancy and pursue eviction through the courts.

[LANDLORD / AUTHORIZED AGENT NAME]
[ADDRESS]
[PHONE]
[EMAIL]

— INFORMATIONAL TEMPLATE. NOT LEGAL ADVICE. See 735 ILCS 5/9-209. Chicago properties: also see Chicago RLTO (Municipal Code §5-12). Consult an Illinois-licensed attorney.

Polite Version

FIVE-DAY NOTICE TO PAY RENT

Date: [DATE]

To: [TENANT FULL NAME(S)]
Premises: [FULL PROPERTY ADDRESS, INCLUDING UNIT NUMBER], [CITY], Illinois [ZIP CODE]

This notice is to inform you that rent in the amount of $[AMOUNT DUE] for the above premises, covering the rental period of [PERIOD], is now past due.

Under Illinois law, you have five (5) days from delivery of this notice to pay the full amount due or to vacate the premises.

If payment has already been sent or if there is a misunderstanding about the amount owed, please contact us immediately so we can resolve this matter.

We prefer to resolve this without court proceedings. If full payment is not received within five days, we will have no choice but to pursue eviction under Illinois law.

Sincerely,
[LANDLORD / AUTHORIZED AGENT NAME]
[ADDRESS]
[PHONE]
[EMAIL]

— INFORMATIONAL TEMPLATE. NOT LEGAL ADVICE.

Firm Version

FIVE-DAY NOTICE

Date: [DATE]

TO: [TENANT FULL NAME(S)]
PREMISES: [FULL PROPERTY ADDRESS, INCLUDING UNIT NUMBER], [CITY], Illinois [ZIP CODE]

PURSUANT TO 735 ILCS 5/9-209, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN AND DEMAND IS HEREBY MADE that you pay rent in the sum of $[AMOUNT DUE] for the rental period of [PERIOD], or surrender possession of the above premises, within FIVE (5) DAYS from the date of service of this notice.

FAILURE TO PAY OR VACATE will result in the filing of an eviction action in the circuit court.

[LANDLORD / AUTHORIZED AGENT NAME]
[ADDRESS]
[PHONE]
[EMAIL]

— INFORMATIONAL TEMPLATE. NOT LEGAL ADVICE.

When to Use This Template

  • When an Illinois tenant has failed to pay rent and you intend to file an eviction action
  • Only after confirming no valid reason exists for non-payment (e.g., tenant has not lawfully withheld rent for habitability reasons)
  • ⚠️ REQUIRES LEGAL REVIEW: Chicago properties — the Chicago RLTO (Municipal Code §5-12-130) imposes specific requirements on notice content and delivery; Chicago landlords must also have provided tenants with the RLTO summary at lease inception or the landlord's rights may be affected
  • ⚠️ REQUIRES LEGAL REVIEW: Delivery method — Illinois courts have interpreted acceptable service methods; confirm whether personal delivery, certified mail, or posting satisfies the requirement in your county
  • ⚠️ REQUIRES LEGAL REVIEW: Whether the tenant has any valid rent withholding rights under the Illinois Residential Tenants Right to Repair Act or the Chicago RLTO habitability provisions

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Omitting the unit number for multi-unit properties: Illinois courts require the notice to correctly identify the premises. Omitting the apartment or unit number for a multi-unit building can result in the notice being found defective.
Ignoring Chicago RLTO requirements for Chicago properties: The Chicago RLTO imposes obligations beyond state law. Chicago landlords who fail to provide required disclosures at lease inception may face restrictions on their ability to evict or other penalties.
Accepting partial rent after serving the notice: Accepting partial rent after serving a 5-day notice may waive the notice under Illinois law and require you to restart the process. Consult an attorney before accepting any payment after serving a notice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the statutory basis for Illinois's 5-day notice?

735 ILCS 5/9-209 requires a landlord to make a written demand for rent or possession and give the tenant five days to comply before commencing an eviction action for non-payment of rent.

Do Chicago landlords have additional requirements beyond state law?

⚠️ Flagged for legal review. The Chicago Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (RLTO, Chicago Municipal Code §5-12) imposes requirements beyond state law for properties in the City of Chicago. These include providing tenants with the RLTO summary at lease inception, specific notice content requirements, and additional tenant protections. Chicago landlords should consult an attorney familiar with the RLTO before serving any notice.

Can I accept partial rent after serving the 5-day notice?

⚠️ Flagged for legal review. Accepting partial rent after serving the notice may constitute a waiver of the notice under Illinois law, requiring you to restart the process. Consult an Illinois attorney before accepting any payment after the notice is served.