§ 5/9-120 Leased premises used in furtherance of a criminal offense; lease void at option of lessor or assignee

Codes > Illinois Compiled Statutes > Chapter 735 > Act 5 : Article IX > Part 1 : 5/9-120 Leased

§ 9-120. Leased premises used in furtherance of a criminal offense; lease void at option of lessor or assignee.

    (a) If any lessee or occupant, on one or more occasions, uses or permits the use of leased premises for the commission of any act that would constitute a felony or a Class A misdemeanor under the laws of this State, the lease or rental agreement shall, at the option of the lessor or the lessor's assignee become void, and the owner or lessor shall be entitled to recover possession of the leased premises as against a tenant holding over after the expiration of his or her term.

    (b) The owner or lessor may bring a forcible entry and detainer action, or, if the State's Attorney of the county in which the real  property is located agrees, assign to that State's Attorney the right to bring a forcible entry and detainer action on behalf of the owner or lessor, against the lessee and all occupants of the leased premises. The assignment must be in writing on a form prepared by the State's Attorney of the county in which the real property is located. If the owner or lessor assigns the right to bring a forcible entry and detainer action, the assignment shall be limited to those rights and duties up to and including delivery of the order of eviction to the sheriff for execution. The owner or lessor shall remain liable for the cost of the eviction whether or not the right to bring the forcible entry and detainer action has been assigned.

    (c) A person does not forfeit any part of his or her security deposit due solely to an eviction under the provisions of this Section, except that a security deposit may be used to pay fees charged by the sheriff for carrying out an eviction.

    (d) If a lessor or the lessor's assignee voids a lease or contract under the provisions of this Section and the tenant or occupant has not vacated the premises within 5 days after receipt of a written notice to vacate the premises, the lessor or lessor's assignee may seek relief under this Article IX. Notwithstanding Sections 9-112, 9-113, and 9-114 of this Code, judgment for costs against a plaintiff seeking possession of the premises under this Section shall not be awarded to the defendant unless the action was brought by the plaintiff in bad faith. An action to possess premises under this Section shall not be deemed to be in bad faith when the plaintiff based his or her cause of action on information provided to him or her by a law enforcement agency or the State's Attorney.

    (e) After a trial, if the court finds, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the allegations in the complaint have been proven, the court shall enter judgment for possession of the premises in favor of the plaintiff and the court shall order that the plaintiff shall be entitled to re-enter the premises immediately.

    (f) A judgment for possession of the premises entered in an action brought by a lessor or lessor's assignee, if the action was brought as a result of a lessor or lessor's assignee declaring a lease void pursuant to this Section, may not be stayed for any period in excess of 7 days by the court unless all parties agree to a longer period. Thereafter the plaintiff shall be entitled to re-enter the premises immediately. The sheriff or other lawfully deputized officers shall execute an order entered pursuant to this Section within 7 days of its entry, or within 7 days of the expiration of a stay of judgment, if one is entered.

    (g) Nothing in this Section shall limit the rights of an owner or lessor to bring a forcible entry and detainer action on the basis of other applicable law.