# Can Landlord INCREASE Sec Deposit? Illinois **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 2, 2014, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-landlord-increase-sec-deposit-illinois/694659 "2014-08-02T17:50:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![cookiecuttercc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@cookiecuttercc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cookiecuttercc)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2014, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-landlord-increase-sec-deposit-illinois/694659/21 "2014-08-02T21:47:05Z")
For future reference (or if you ever see that lady who got evicted) Rockford Legal Aid 303 North Main Street, Suite 600 Rockford, IL 61101 Local Number: (815) 962-2902 Toll Free Number: (800) 892-2985 > **[Prairie State Legal Services](https://pslegal.org/)** > > Since 1977, Prairie State Legal Services (PSLS) has fought to achieve equal justice for people living in poverty across northern and central Illinois. We serve 36 counties in northern and central Illinois. We operate 11 offices, with locations in... If you can, pay via money order (you can get them at Wal-Mart or the Post Office cheaply) and write down the serial number of the money order. otherwise, keep a journal of your cash rent payments. Take photos of your apartment before you leave for your lease. Make sure you have a business address of the landlord (heck, jot down his license plate number if he doesn’t have a real business address—as shady landlords have a tendency to disappear for a while) good luck, hope you won’t need it. ps from googling, Rockford has a landlord registration ordinance. So this landlord has to be registered with the city. If not, he’s breaking the law and will be liable for a fine. and if you want to distribube some righteous karma, you can anonymously report him to the IRS after you move out. ---
**Author:** ![AnaMen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@AnaMen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnaMen)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2014, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-landlord-increase-sec-deposit-illinois/694659/22 "2014-08-02T21:50:59Z")
> [@BlueValley45](#): > > Sorry!! . . I didnt mean I’d mock up a fake receipt. Just generate my own receipt for the additional deposit money and ref the original receipt and put it in front of him to sign. He’s a wimp when confronted in front of others. Oh, okay. That’s a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![BlueValley45](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@BlueValley45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueValley45)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2014, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-landlord-increase-sec-deposit-illinois/694659/23 "2014-08-02T22:01:24Z")
Thanks everybody! ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2014, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-landlord-increase-sec-deposit-illinois/694659/24 "2014-08-02T22:06:08Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > wow, I want to live there :dubious: > [@Dr.Drake](#): > > Given what you’ve said, it’s clear that this landlord WILL screw you over when you move out. There is zero chance of your getting any deposit back without going to court, and if you do go to court he’ll sue for nonpayment of rent… which you can’t prove you paid. > > If he won’t provide a rent receipt, you should pay by check in order to have proof of payment. My guess is that he’ll insist on cash or nothing because he likes having this advantage over you. (Edit: “mocking up” a rent receipt will do more harm than good.) > > Either way, move ASAP. I don’t know about Illinois, but in my state landlords are not allowed to insist on cash payment unless the tenant has a history of passing bad checks or something like that. Many landlords and tenants here do prefer to operate with cash, but the tenant does have the right to pay with a check if she prefers in most cases. Check your local laws. ---
**Author:** ![BlueValley45](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@BlueValley45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueValley45)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2014, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-landlord-increase-sec-deposit-illinois/694659/25 "2014-08-02T22:18:12Z")
> [@cookiecuttercc](#): > > For future reference (or if you ever see that lady who got evicted) > > Rockford Legal Aid > 303 North Main Street, Suite 600 > Rockford, IL 61101 > Local Number: (815) 962-2902 > Toll Free Number: (800) 892-2985 > > [http://www.pslegal.org/](http://www.pslegal.org/) > If you can, pay via money order (you can get them at Wal-Mart or the Post Office cheaply) and write down the serial number of the money order. > > otherwise, keep a journal of your cash rent payments. Take photos of your apartment before you leave for your lease. > > Make sure you have a business address of the landlord (heck, jot down his license plate number if he doesn’t have a real business address—as shady landlords have a tendency to disappear for a while) > > good luck, hope you won’t need it. > ps from googling, Rockford has a landlord registration ordinance. So this landlord has to be registered with the city. If not, he’s breaking the law and will be liable for a fine. and if you want to distribube some righteous karma, you can anonymously report him to the IRS after you move out. Thanks . . I have heard in the past about Prairie State Legal . . . and yes I mentioned the taking photos idea to someone who is moving out soon. I also just found out a former renter is suing the landlord for his deposit and illegal eviction and the case is in court in 3 weeks!! . . . . this is while the landlord has just got an ok for re-zoning from the city as a boarding house. Hmmm . . I wonder why he needs the additional income? HA!! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-landlord-increase-sec-deposit-illinois/694659.md?page=1)