The right of the landlord to distrain the personal goods of the tenant, shall continue for the period of 6 months after the expiration of the term for which the premises were demised or the tenancy is terminated.
9-313.Limitation.
Article IX. Eviction · Part 3. Distress for Rent · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceSection 9-313 caps a landlord's right to distrain a tenant's goods at six months after the lease term ends or the tenancy is terminated.
Full Text of 735 ILCS 5/9-313
Plain-English Summary
Distress for rent is not available forever. Section 9-313 states that the landlord's right to distrain the tenant's personal goods continues for six months after the expiration of the term for which the premises were demised, or after the tenancy is terminated.
That six-month window gives the remedy a clear endpoint tied to two possible triggers: the natural expiration of the lease term, or an earlier termination of the tenancy. Once six months pass from whichever event applies, the statute no longer authorizes distraint for that tenancy's rent.
The same six-month duration reappears in Section 9-316, which gives the landlord's crop lien an identical six-month period after the lease term expires. The two provisions are not worded identically, though: Section 9-313's clock can start from either the lease term's expiration or an earlier termination of the tenancy, while Section 9-316 ties the crop lien's six months only to expiration of the lease term.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long after a lease ends can a landlord still distrain the tenant's property?
Section 9-313 allows distraint for six months after the expiration of the lease term, or after the tenancy is terminated.
What two events can start the six-month distraint period running?
The expiration of the term for which the premises were demised, or the termination of the tenancy, whichever applies to the situation.
Can a landlord distrain a former tenant's property more than six months after the tenancy ended?
No. The statute limits the right to distrain to the six months following expiration of the term or termination of the tenancy.
Does this six-month limit apply to the landlord's lien on crops too?
Section 9-316 sets an identical six-month period for the landlord's crop lien, running from expiration of the lease term.
Does Section 9-313 limit anything besides the right to distrain?
No. It addresses only the landlord's right to distrain the tenant's personal goods, not other remedies available under this Article.
Amendment History
(Source: P.A. 82-280.)
Source & verification. Section text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Illinois Compiled Statutes, published by the
Illinois Compiled Statutes, Illinois General Assembly / Legislative Reference Bureau. Last verified July 20, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: distress for rent time limit Illinois9-313 Illinoishow long can a landlord distrain propertysix month distraint deadline Illinois