HB0065 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 02915 LNS 12931 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB0065

Introduced 1/9/2025, by Rep. Sonya M. Harper

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act
720 ILCS 5/17-5.8 new
720 ILCS 5/21-3.1 new

Creates the Remedy to Remove Unauthorized Persons from Residential Real Property Act. Allows a property owner or authorized agent to request a law enforcement officer to remove an unlawful occupant of a residential dwelling if certain conditions are met. Creates a complaint form for the property owner to complete and give to a law enforcement officer to use when requesting the removal of an unlawful occupant. Provides that if the law enforcement officer verifies the information in the form, the law enforcement officer must serve a notice on the unlawful occupant to vacate the dwelling. Requires the unlawful occupant to vacate the dwelling within 3 business days of receiving the notice. Authorizes the law enforcement officer, if appropriate, to arrest any person for trespass, outstanding warrants, or any other legal cause. Authorizes the property owner to request the law enforcement officer to remain on the premises to keep the peace while the locks are changed or the personal property of the unlawful occupant is removed. Authorizes the law enforcement officer to charge reasonable fees to provide notice and remain on the premises. Allows a person to bring an action for wrongful removal, and allows the property owner to file an answer contesting the claims of the person bringing the action. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person commits a Class 4 felony if he or she lists or advertises residential real property for sale knowing that the purported seller has no legal title or authority to sell the property, or rents or leases the property to another person knowing that he or she has no lawful ownership in the property or leasehold interest in the property. Provides that a person commits a Class A misdemeanor when he or she enters upon the land or premises of another and resides on such land or premises for any period of time knowingly acting without the knowledge or consent of the owner, rightful occupant, or an authorized representative of the owner.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning real property.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Remedy to Remove Unauthorized Persons from Residential Real Estate Act.

Section 5. Findings. The General Assembly finds that the right to exclude others from entering and the right to direct others to immediately vacate residential real property are the most important real property rights. The General Assembly further finds that existing remedies regarding unauthorized persons who unlawfully remain on residential real property fail to adequately protect the rights of the property owner and fail to adequately discourage theft and vandalism. The intent of this Act is to quickly restore possession of residential real property to the lawful owner of the property when the property is being unlawfully occupied and to preserve property rights while limiting the opportunity for criminal activity.

Section 10. Conditions of removal and statutory form.

(a) A property owner or authorized agent may request a law enforcement officer to remove a person or persons unlawfully occupying a residential dwelling under this Act if all of the following conditions are met:

(1) The requesting person is the property owner or authorized agent of the property owner.

(2) The real property that is being occupied includes a residential dwelling.

(3) An unauthorized person or persons have unlawfully entered and remain or continue to reside on the property owner's property.

(4) The real property was not open to members of the public at the time the unauthorized person or persons entered.

(5) The property owner has directed the unauthorized person to leave the property.

(6) The unauthorized person or persons are not current or former tenants under a written or oral rental agreement authorized by the property owner.

(7) The unauthorized person or persons are not immediate family members of the property owner.

(8) There is no pending litigation related to the real property between the property owner and any known unauthorized person.

(b) To request the removal of an unlawful occupant of a residential dwelling, the property owner or authorized agent must submit a complaint by presenting a completed and verified Complaint to Remove Persons Unlawfully Occupying Residential Real Property to a law enforcement officer. The submitted complaint must be in substantially the following form:

COMPLAINT TO REMOVE PERSONS UNLAWFULLY OCCUPYING

RESIDENTIAL REAL PROPERTY

I, the owner or authorized agent of the owner of the real property located at ... ..., declare under the penalty of perjury that (initial each box):

1. .... I am the owner of the real property or the authorized agent of the owner of the real property.

2. .... I purchased the property on .....

3. .... The real property is a residential dwelling.

4. .... An unauthorized person or persons have unlawfully entered and are remaining or residing unlawfully on the real property.

5. .... The real property was not open to members of the public at the time the unauthorized person or persons entered.

6. .... I have directed the unauthorized person or persons to leave the real property, but they have not done so.

7. .... The person or persons are not current or former tenants under any valid lease authorized by the property owner, and any lease that may be produced by an occupant is fraudulent.

8. .... The unauthorized person or persons sought to be removed are not an owner or a co-owner of the property and have not been listed on the title to the property unless the person or persons have engaged in title fraud.

9. .... The unauthorized person or persons are not immediate family members of the property owner.

10. .... There is no litigation related to the real property pending between the property owner and any person sought to be removed.

11. .... I understand that a person or persons removed from the property under this procedure may bring an action against me for any false statements made in this complaint or for wrongfully using this procedure, and that as a result of such action I may be held liable for actual damages, penalties, costs, and reasonable attorney's fees.

12. .... I am requesting the law enforcement officer to remove the unauthorized person or persons from the residential property.

13. .... A copy of my valid government-issued identification is attached, or I am an agent of the property owner, and documents evidencing my authority to act on the property owner's behalf are attached.

I HAVE READ EVERY STATEMENT MADE IN THIS COMPLAINT AND EACH STATEMENT IS TRUE AND CORRECT. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE STATEMENTS MADE IN THIS COMPLAINT ARE BEING MADE UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY.

...(Signature of Property Owner or Agent of Owner)

Section 15. Law enforcement officer's duties and fees.

(a) Upon receipt of the complaint, the law enforcement officer shall verify that the person submitting the complaint is the record owner of the real property or the authorized agent of the owner and appears otherwise entitled to relief under this Act. If verified, the law enforcement officer shall, without delay, serve a notice to vacate on all the unlawful occupants and shall put the owner in possession of the real property. Service may be accomplished by hand delivery of the notice to an occupant or by posting the notice on the front door or entrance of the dwelling. The law enforcement officer shall also attempt to verify the identities of all persons occupying the dwelling and note the identities on the return of service.

(b) The law enforcement officer is entitled to the same fee for service of the notice to vacate as if the law enforcement officer were serving an eviction order under Article IX of the Code of Civil Procedure. After the law enforcement officer serves the notice to vacate and after the 3-day waiting period described in Section 20, the property owner or authorized agent may request that the law enforcement officer stand by to keep the peace while the property owner or agent of the owner changes the locks and removes the personal property of the unlawful occupants from the premises to or near the property line. When such a request is made, the law enforcement officer may charge a reasonable hourly rate to the person requesting the law enforcement officer's services. The law enforcement officer is not liable to the unlawful occupant or any other party for loss, destruction, or damage of property. The property owner or his or her authorized agent is not liable to an unlawful occupant or any other party for the loss, destruction, or damage to the personal property unless the removal was wrongful.

Section 20. Time limit to vacate after notice. Any person who receives a notice to vacate from a law enforcement officer under Section 15 shall vacate the real property within 3 business days of receiving the notice. If any person fails to vacate the real property within 3 business days of receiving such notice, the law enforcement officer shall remove such person. If appropriate, the law enforcement officer may arrest any person found in the dwelling for trespass, outstanding warrants, or any other legal cause.

Section 25. Action for wrongful removal; counter affidavit.

(a) A person may bring a civil action for wrongful removal under this Act by filing a complaint that is accompanied by an affidavit which establishes that the person was wrongfully removed. A person harmed by a wrongful removal under this Act may be restored to possession of the real property and may recover actual costs and damages incurred, statutory damages equal to triple the fair market rent of the dwelling, court costs, and reasonable attorney's fees. The court is requested to give such an action priority on its calendar. This Act does not limit the rights of a property owner or limit the authority of a law enforcement officer to arrest an unlawful occupant for trespassing, vandalism, theft, or other crimes.

(b) The property owner who submitted the complaint to have the person removed may file an answer contesting the claims of the person bringing an action under subsection (a). The court, upon review of both affidavits, shall make a finding of who is the most likely and true lawful possessor of the real property.

Section 90. The Criminal Code of 2012 is amended by adding Sections 17-5.8 and 21-3.1 as follows:

(720 ILCS 5/17-5.8 new)

Sec. 17-5.8. Unlawful listing or advertising of residential real property. A person who lists or advertises residential real property for sale knowing that the purported seller has no legal title or authority to sell the property, or rents or leases the property to another person knowing that he or she has no lawful ownership in the property or leasehold interest in the property, commits a Class 4 felony.

(720 ILCS 5/21-3.1 new)

Sec. 21-3.1. Unlawful squatting.

(a) A person commits unlawful squatting when he or she enters upon the land or premises of another and resides on such land or premises for any period of time knowingly acting without the knowledge or consent of the owner, rightful occupant, or an authorized representative of the owner. For the purposes of this Section, "resides" means to inhabit or live on or within any land or premises.

(b) Any person who commits or is accused of committing unlawful squatting shall receive a citation advising him or her that he or she must present to the issuing law enforcement agency, within 3 business days of receipt of the citation, properly executed documentation, including a properly executed lease or rental agreement or proof of rental payments, that authorizes the person's entry on such land or premises or submit proof that the person has obtained adverse possession of the land or premises under Section 13-101, 13-107, 13-107.1, 13-109, or 13-109.1 of the Code of Civil Procedure. If the person is unable to provide the documentation or proof required under this subsection, he or she shall be subject to arrest for unlawful squatting. If the person is able to provide the documentation or proof required under this subsection, a hearing shall be set within 7 days of submission of such documentation and if the court finds that the submitted documentation was not properly executed or is not meritorious, he or she shall be subject to demand for possession, removal, and arrest, and, upon conviction, shall be assessed an additional fine based on the fair market monthly rental rate of the land or premises.

(c) Sentence. A violation of this Section is a Class A misdemeanor.