Steger — Ch. 18 Art. XVI Rental Housing Nuisance § 18-343
Crime-free lease and enforcement
Operative Text
(a) If any lessee or occupant, on one or more occasions, uses or permits the use of leased premises within the village of 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. A written lease shall notify the lessee that if any lessee or occupant, on one or more occasions, uses or permits the use of the leased premises for the commission of a felony or class A misdemeanor under the laws of this state, the lessor shall have the right to void the lease and recover the leased premises. Failure to include this language in a written lease or the use of an oral lease shall not waive or impair the rights of the lessor or lessor's assignee under this section or the lease. (b) Upon the request of an owner or lessor in writing, the corporation counsel of the village may bring a forcible entry and detainer action on behalf of the owner or lessor against the lessee and all occupants of the leased premises in violation of this section.
Section 18-343 of Steger's Rental Housing Nuisance ordinance establishes that a lease or rental agreement may be voided when a tenant or occupant uses the leased premises for conduct that would constitute a felony or Class A misdemeanor under Illinois law. The rule applies whether the criminal use occurs once or multiple times, and it grants the property owner the right to reclaim possession of the unit. Written leases are required to include notice of this provision, though the absence of such language does not eliminate the owner's rights under § 18-343.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 18-343, compliant operators in Steger generally include a written notice in their lease agreements informing tenants that felony or Class A misdemeanor activity on the premises may result in the lease being voided and possession being recovered. Even if a lease omits this language or is oral, the rights granted by this section remain intact. When an owner or lessor seeks to pursue a forcible entry and detainer action, § 18-343(b) provides a mechanism to request that the village's corporation counsel bring that action on the owner's behalf.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 18-343 gives landlords in Steger the option — not an automatic obligation — to void a lease if a tenant or occupant engages in conduct constituting a felony or Class A misdemeanor on the premises. Tenants should be aware that this right exists even if their written lease does not include the required notice language, or if they have an oral lease. Those who believe this provision is being applied improperly or in a retaliatory manner may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider familiar with Illinois landlord-tenant law for general information about 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 6, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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