Illinois Leasing Agent License REAL EXAM 150 QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES 2026 LATEST VERSION
COVERING MOST RECENT TESTED QUESTIONS
1. Which of the following is required to obtain a leasing agent license in Illinois?
A) Be at least 18 years old
B) Own a real estate office
C) Have a college degree
D) Be a U.S. citizen
Rationale: Illinois law requires applicants to be at least 18 years old and complete required education;
citizenship is not strictly required.
2. How long is a typical Illinois leasing agent license valid before renewal?
A) 1 year
B) 2 years
C) 3 years
D) 5 years
Rationale: Leasing agent licenses in Illinois are generally valid for 2 years.
3. Which of the following is considered a residential lease?
A) Commercial office lease
B) Apartment rental
C) Industrial warehouse lease
D) Retail storefront lease
Rationale: Residential leases pertain to living accommodations, like apartments or houses.
4. A landlord must return a tenant’s security deposit within how many days in Illinois?
A) 15 days
B) 30 days
C) 45 days
D) 60 days
Rationale: Illinois law requires 30 days for return after lease termination, minus lawful deductions.
,5. Which federal law prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin,
familial status, or disability?
A) Illinois Civil Rights Act
B) Fair Housing Act
C) Americans with Disabilities Act
D) Equal Credit Opportunity Act
Rationale: The Fair Housing Act (1968) prohibits housing discrimination on these bases.
6. A leasing agent advertising a rental unit cannot:
A) List the number of bedrooms
B) State rent amount
C) Indicate “no children allowed”
D) Mention nearby schools
Rationale: Discrimination against familial status (children) is prohibited.
7. In Illinois, how many hours of pre-license education must a leasing agent complete?
A) 12 hours
B) 15 hours
C) 20 hours
D) 24 hours
Rationale: Illinois requires 15 hours of approved pre-license coursework for leasing agents.
8. Which of the following is considered an unlawful eviction?
A) Tenant vacates voluntarily
B) Tenant is locked out without court order
C) Tenant fails to pay rent and is taken to court
D) Lease ends and tenant moves out
Rationale: Landlords cannot self-help evict tenants, such as changing locks without notice or court
process.
9. A security deposit cannot exceed:
A) One month’s rent
B) Two months’ rent
C) Three months’ rent
D) No limit
Rationale: Illinois law caps security deposits for residential leases at 2 months’ rent unless specified
otherwise.
,10. Which of the following must be disclosed to a prospective tenant?
A) Prior tenant credit history
B) Known lead-based paint hazards
C) Neighbor’s income
D) Landlord’s personal finances
Rationale: Federal law requires disclosure of lead-based paint hazards in units built before 1978.
11. Which action by a leasing agent is considered a conflict of interest?
A) Collecting rent on behalf of the landlord
B) Showing a property to multiple applicants
C) Representing both the landlord and tenant in the same lease negotiation without consent
D) Providing a rental application
Rationale: Dual representation without consent creates a conflict of interest.
12. Illinois law requires landlords to maintain:
A) Only exterior landscaping
B) Fit and habitable premises
C) Tenant furniture
D) Tenant personal property
Rationale: Landlords must ensure the unit is safe, clean, and habitable under the Illinois Residential
Landlord and Tenant Act.
13. If a tenant breaks a lease early, the landlord may:
A) Keep the full security deposit and not re-rent
B) Attempt to mitigate damages by re-renting
C) Evict immediately without notice
D) Change the locks
Rationale: Landlords have a duty to mitigate damages when a tenant abandons a lease.
14. Which of these is considered an acceptable reason to deny a tenant?
A) Tenant’s race
B) Tenant’s inability to pay rent
C) Tenant’s national origin
D) Tenant has children
, Rationale: Denying tenancy for financial reasons is lawful, while discrimination based on protected
classes is illegal.
15. In Illinois, a lease agreement must:
A) Be notarized
B) Be in writing if longer than one year
C) Include furniture inventory
D) Include landlord’s tax ID
Rationale: Illinois requires leases longer than one year to be in writing.
16. What is the first step in evicting a tenant for non-payment of rent?
A) Change the locks immediately
B) File a lawsuit in court
C) Remove the tenant’s belongings
D) Shut off utilities
Rationale: Eviction requires legal proceedings in court; self-help eviction is illegal.
17. Which of the following is illegal under fair housing law?
A) Charging higher rent due to tenant’s poor credit
B) Refusing to rent to a tenant because they have a disability
C) Requiring proof of income
D) Running background checks
Rationale: Discrimination against disabilities violates the Fair Housing Act.
18. Which of the following is NOT a responsibility of a leasing agent?
A) Marketing rental units
B) Collecting rent
C) Conducting inspections
D) Filing tax returns for the landlord
Rationale: Leasing agents do not file taxes; their duties are property management and leasing.
19. Illinois law requires a written lease to include:
A) Names of all parties
B) Social security numbers
C) Employment history of tenant
D) Tenant’s vehicle registration
CORRECT ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES 2026 LATEST VERSION
COVERING MOST RECENT TESTED QUESTIONS
1. Which of the following is required to obtain a leasing agent license in Illinois?
A) Be at least 18 years old
B) Own a real estate office
C) Have a college degree
D) Be a U.S. citizen
Rationale: Illinois law requires applicants to be at least 18 years old and complete required education;
citizenship is not strictly required.
2. How long is a typical Illinois leasing agent license valid before renewal?
A) 1 year
B) 2 years
C) 3 years
D) 5 years
Rationale: Leasing agent licenses in Illinois are generally valid for 2 years.
3. Which of the following is considered a residential lease?
A) Commercial office lease
B) Apartment rental
C) Industrial warehouse lease
D) Retail storefront lease
Rationale: Residential leases pertain to living accommodations, like apartments or houses.
4. A landlord must return a tenant’s security deposit within how many days in Illinois?
A) 15 days
B) 30 days
C) 45 days
D) 60 days
Rationale: Illinois law requires 30 days for return after lease termination, minus lawful deductions.
,5. Which federal law prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin,
familial status, or disability?
A) Illinois Civil Rights Act
B) Fair Housing Act
C) Americans with Disabilities Act
D) Equal Credit Opportunity Act
Rationale: The Fair Housing Act (1968) prohibits housing discrimination on these bases.
6. A leasing agent advertising a rental unit cannot:
A) List the number of bedrooms
B) State rent amount
C) Indicate “no children allowed”
D) Mention nearby schools
Rationale: Discrimination against familial status (children) is prohibited.
7. In Illinois, how many hours of pre-license education must a leasing agent complete?
A) 12 hours
B) 15 hours
C) 20 hours
D) 24 hours
Rationale: Illinois requires 15 hours of approved pre-license coursework for leasing agents.
8. Which of the following is considered an unlawful eviction?
A) Tenant vacates voluntarily
B) Tenant is locked out without court order
C) Tenant fails to pay rent and is taken to court
D) Lease ends and tenant moves out
Rationale: Landlords cannot self-help evict tenants, such as changing locks without notice or court
process.
9. A security deposit cannot exceed:
A) One month’s rent
B) Two months’ rent
C) Three months’ rent
D) No limit
Rationale: Illinois law caps security deposits for residential leases at 2 months’ rent unless specified
otherwise.
,10. Which of the following must be disclosed to a prospective tenant?
A) Prior tenant credit history
B) Known lead-based paint hazards
C) Neighbor’s income
D) Landlord’s personal finances
Rationale: Federal law requires disclosure of lead-based paint hazards in units built before 1978.
11. Which action by a leasing agent is considered a conflict of interest?
A) Collecting rent on behalf of the landlord
B) Showing a property to multiple applicants
C) Representing both the landlord and tenant in the same lease negotiation without consent
D) Providing a rental application
Rationale: Dual representation without consent creates a conflict of interest.
12. Illinois law requires landlords to maintain:
A) Only exterior landscaping
B) Fit and habitable premises
C) Tenant furniture
D) Tenant personal property
Rationale: Landlords must ensure the unit is safe, clean, and habitable under the Illinois Residential
Landlord and Tenant Act.
13. If a tenant breaks a lease early, the landlord may:
A) Keep the full security deposit and not re-rent
B) Attempt to mitigate damages by re-renting
C) Evict immediately without notice
D) Change the locks
Rationale: Landlords have a duty to mitigate damages when a tenant abandons a lease.
14. Which of these is considered an acceptable reason to deny a tenant?
A) Tenant’s race
B) Tenant’s inability to pay rent
C) Tenant’s national origin
D) Tenant has children
, Rationale: Denying tenancy for financial reasons is lawful, while discrimination based on protected
classes is illegal.
15. In Illinois, a lease agreement must:
A) Be notarized
B) Be in writing if longer than one year
C) Include furniture inventory
D) Include landlord’s tax ID
Rationale: Illinois requires leases longer than one year to be in writing.
16. What is the first step in evicting a tenant for non-payment of rent?
A) Change the locks immediately
B) File a lawsuit in court
C) Remove the tenant’s belongings
D) Shut off utilities
Rationale: Eviction requires legal proceedings in court; self-help eviction is illegal.
17. Which of the following is illegal under fair housing law?
A) Charging higher rent due to tenant’s poor credit
B) Refusing to rent to a tenant because they have a disability
C) Requiring proof of income
D) Running background checks
Rationale: Discrimination against disabilities violates the Fair Housing Act.
18. Which of the following is NOT a responsibility of a leasing agent?
A) Marketing rental units
B) Collecting rent
C) Conducting inspections
D) Filing tax returns for the landlord
Rationale: Leasing agents do not file taxes; their duties are property management and leasing.
19. Illinois law requires a written lease to include:
A) Names of all parties
B) Social security numbers
C) Employment history of tenant
D) Tenant’s vehicle registration
