Rantoul — Ch. 10 Art. XII Property Maintenance Code § 10-420
Tenant complaint
Operative Text
(a) A tenant may file a complaint with the village alleging a violation of the village's property maintenance code that the tenant knows or reasonably believes exists concerning the interior, the exterior, or both of the rental dwelling the tenant occupies, and which negatively impacts the habitability of the dwelling or safety of the tenant. The tenant may use the form provided by the village on the village's website, or by meeting with the village inspector. For purposes of this division, the term "habitability" shall mean a dwelling that is fit for human occupation, and is free from serious defects that may pose a risk to the health, safety, and wellbeing of the residents. (b) Tenant complaints shall include the following: (1) Tenant's full name. (2) The address of the rental dwelling. (3) Tenant's telephone number. (4) Tenant's e-mail address, if any. (5) A reasonably detailed description of the condition which tenant believes to be a violation of the village's property maintenance code, including the location of the condition at or within the rental dwelling. (6) The name of the owner; and, the name of the manager, if any. (7) Any other information the tenant believes would assist the village in addressing the complaint. (8) A statement as to whether the owner has given the tenant a lease violation notice, or a notice to quit (e.g., a five-day, ten-day, or 30-day notice), or served a complaint and summons for eviction, and the date on which the tenant received the notice or summons. (9) An acknowledgement that the tenant's signature grants consent for the village inspector or code enforcement officer to enter upon the property and inside the rental dwelling in order to investigate the complaint. (10) The tenant shall sign the complaint and provide the date upon which the complaint was submitted to the village. (c) The owner, or their representative, that is the subject of a tenant complaint shall not in any way take any punitive or retaliatory action against the tenant for the tenant's submission of a complaint to the village regarding the rental dwelling. (d) Punitive action taken by the owner, or their representative, after the date the tenant submitted the complaint to the village shall be deemed prima facie evidence that the owner retaliated against the tenant for submitting their complaint to the village. (e) Nothing in the subsection above shall be deemed or construed as prohibiting an owner from giving a tenant a lawful notice concerning the lease, or serving the tenant with a lawful eviction complaint and summons. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the owner may still be subject to a penalty if it is determined that the owner took such action in retaliation for a tenant submitting a tenant complaint concerning the rental dwelling to the village.
Rantoul Ch. 10 Art. XII § 10-420 establishes a formal process by which tenants can report property maintenance concerns to the village when those concerns affect habitability or safety. Complaints must include specific identifying and descriptive information, and the tenant's signature authorizes a village inspector to enter the property to investigate. Critically, the provision prohibits landlords from taking punitive or retaliatory action against a tenant who files such a complaint, and any punitive action taken after the complaint is filed is treated as prima facie evidence of retaliation.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Rantoul Ch. 10 Art. XII § 10-420, property owners and their representatives are prohibited from taking any punitive or retaliatory action against a tenant following the submission of a complaint to the village. Compliant operators generally document the independent, lawful basis for any lease notices or eviction proceedings they initiate, particularly when those actions occur after a tenant has filed a complaint, since the timing alone can be treated as prima facie evidence of retaliation. Owners should be aware that even otherwise lawful lease notices or eviction actions may still result in a penalty if a determination is made that they were motivated by a tenant's complaint filing.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Rantoul Ch. 10 Art. XII § 10-420 gives tenants the right to file a formal complaint with the village about property maintenance conditions that affect habitability or safety, using either an online form from the village's website or by meeting directly with a village inspector. The provision also protects tenants from retaliation by their landlord after a complaint is submitted, and any punitive action taken by the owner following the complaint date is considered prima facie evidence of retaliation. Tenants who believe they have experienced retaliation may consider documenting the timeline of events, contacting the village directly, or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization for general guidance on available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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