"The attorney’s fees provisions are meant to give a financial incentive to attorneys to litigate on behalf of those clients who have meritorious cases but who, due to the limited nature of the controversy, would not normally consider litigation as being in their client's financial best interest."

Pitts v. Holt, 304 Ill. App. 3d 871, 874 (1st Dist. 1999).

Why enforce renters' rights?

     Many tenants turn to Depositlaw because their landlord kept way too much security deposit.  Other tenants get fed up with ignored requests to fix problems or intrusive entries without adequate notice. 

     Some tenants just want to enforce public rights.  The reason lawmakers enacted legislation that awards tenants free money is that they want tenants to privately enforce public rights.  That's the same reason some landlords have to pay tenants' attorney fees.  Even if the landlord kept just $100; it's a matter of public policy. 

     Certain landlords take advantage of tenants - especially low-income and student tenants.  Tenants who stand up for their own rights help all Illinois renters by sending landlords a message.