What must be on the first page of an Illinois lease
All non-optional fees, one-time or recurring, must be explicitly contained on the first page of the lease. If a required fee is not there, the tenant is not liable for it.
Updated November 1, 2026 · Based on Public Act 104-0479
What to put on page one
- Monthly rent.
- Every required one-time fee: move-in fee, security deposit, lease administration fee, pet fee if the tenant has a pet.
- Every required recurring fee: parking, amenity, technology, trash, utility bill-back, resident benefit package, pet rent.
- Fees that only apply in some cases, such as late fees and returned-payment fees.
- Which utilities are included in rent and which the tenant pays.
An addendum or a fee schedule on page twelve no longer protects you. The statute is specific about the first page.
Sample first-page fee table
| Charge | Amount | When |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly rent | $1,650 | Monthly |
| Security deposit (refundable) | $1,650 | Before move-in |
| Parking, assigned space (required) | $75 | Monthly |
| Water, sewer and trash bill-back | $45 est. | Monthly |
| Pet rent (only with a pet) | $35 | Monthly |
| Late fee (only if rent is late) | $10 + 5% over $500 | If it applies |
| Utilities included in rent | Heat, hot water | |
| Tenant pays provider | Electricity, internet | |
Your fee page generates this table for you with a QR code that links to the public page, ready to print or paste into the first page of your lease template.
Download a blank template (Word or PDF)
Make your disclosure in about two minutes. Fill in your fees once and print the first-page table, so the lease and the listing always show the same numbers.
Keep the lease and the listing identical
The biggest risk is a mismatch: a fee in the lease that was never in the listing, or a listing that shows a lower total than the lease. Use one source of truth, update it when fees change, and print the lease block from the same data.
Frequently asked questions
Can the fees be in an addendum instead?
Not for covered leases. The law requires non-optional fees to be explicitly contained on the first page of the lease agreement.
Do I need to list the security deposit?
Yes. A required deposit is an amount the tenant must pay, so list it on page one with whether it is refundable.
What about optional fees?
The page-one rule covers non-optional fees. Listing optional add-ons as well, clearly marked optional, avoids disputes.
Related
Not legal advice. Confirm your lease with an Illinois attorney.