100+ Free IL Leasing Agent Practice Questions

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Question 1

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A landlord serves a tenant a 5-Day Notice. Under Illinois law, this notice is used for:

Material lease violations other than non-payment

Property sale notification

Termination of a month-to-month tenancy

Failure to pay rent

to track

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: IL Leasing Agent Exam

Exam Questions

PSI ILREP candidate handbook

75%

Passing Score

IDFPR

15 hrs

Pre-License Education

IDFPR-approved Residential Leasing Agent course

2 yrs

Renewal Cycle

IDFPR — 6 hrs CE required

$55

PSI Exam Fee

Approximate — verify current

FREE

OpenExamPrep Practice

100% free

The Illinois Residential Leasing Agent license is the fastest path into Illinois real estate: 18+, high school/GED, a 15-hour IDFPR-approved pre-license course, and the PSI exam. The license is limited to residential leasing under managing-broker supervision. Chicago RLTO and Illinois Human Rights Act add layers federal law alone does not — expect heavy testing on security-deposit rules (30/45-day return, 2x deposit + attorney fees for violations), Cook County Just Housing Amendment, and source-of-income protections. Renewal is every 2 years with 6 hours of CE.

Sample IL Leasing Agent Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your IL Leasing Agent exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1In Illinois, a Residential Leasing Agent license under the Real Estate License Act of 2000 permits the holder to:

A.Lease residential property only, under the supervision of a sponsoring managing broker

B.List and sell residential and commercial properties

C.Sell single-family homes only

D.Manage commercial property exclusively

Explanation: The Illinois Residential Leasing Agent (RLA) license is a limited license under the Real Estate License Act of 2000. It permits ONLY leasing of residential real property under the supervision of a sponsoring managing broker. It does not authorize listing, sales, or commercial leasing.

2The Illinois state agency that licenses and regulates Residential Leasing Agents is the:

A.Illinois Department of Real Estate

B.Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Real Estate

C.Illinois Department of Housing

D.Illinois Attorney General's Office

Explanation: IDFPR's Division of Real Estate administers the Real Estate License Act of 2000, including the Residential Leasing Agent license. PSI is contracted to deliver the licensing exam.

3Before sitting for the leasing-agent exam, an Illinois candidate must complete an IDFPR-approved pre-license course of how many hours?

A.7 hours

B.15 hours

C.45 hours

D.75 hours

Explanation: Illinois requires a 15-hour IDFPR-approved Residential Leasing Agent pre-license course before sitting for the PSI exam. A 75-hour course is required for the Broker pre-license route, not for the limited leasing-agent license.

4Federal Fair Housing Act protected classes include race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, and disability. The Illinois Human Rights Act ADDS which set of protected classes?

A.No additional classes

B.Ancestry, age (40+), marital status, military status, sexual orientation, gender identity, source of income, order of protection status, and pregnancy

C.Only sexual orientation

D.Only source of income

Explanation: The Illinois Human Rights Act extends federal FHA protections to include ancestry, age 40+, marital status, military status, sexual orientation, gender identity, order of protection status, pregnancy, and source of income (effective 2023 expansion).

5Under the Chicago Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (RLTO), security deposits collected on covered units must be returned within how many days after termination of tenancy, with itemized deductions if any?

A.10 days

B.30 days

C.45 days

D.60 days

Explanation: Under the Chicago RLTO, if the landlord deducts from the deposit, an itemized statement plus paid receipts (or estimates) must be provided within 30 days, and any remaining balance returned within 45 days of the tenant vacating. If no deductions, return is within 45 days.

6The Illinois Security Deposit Return Act (765 ILCS 710) applies to residential rental units in buildings containing:

A.Any number of units

B.5 or more units

C.2 or more units

D.Only single-family rentals

Explanation: The Illinois Security Deposit Return Act applies to buildings with 5 or more units. Under SDRA, the landlord must furnish an itemized statement of damages within 30 days of move-out or refund the deposit within 45 days.

7A Chicago landlord covered by RLTO collects a $1,500 security deposit and holds it for 18 months. The unit type and ordinance require interest payment. The landlord must pay interest based on:

A.The federal funds rate

B.The rate set annually by the Chicago City Comptroller (the prevailing RLTO rate, published each January)

C.The state-mandated 7% rate

D.The CPI

Explanation: Chicago RLTO requires interest on security deposits at the rate set annually by the City Comptroller (published each January, often a fraction of a percent). It is NOT a fixed 7% — that number is sometimes confused with old historical rates.

8A residential leasing agent in Illinois may legally accept compensation:

A.Directly from a tenant

B.Directly from the sponsoring managing broker only

C.From any party at the agent's discretion

D.Only after the lease is signed

Explanation: Under the Real Estate License Act of 2000, all compensation for licensed leasing activity must flow through the sponsoring managing broker. A leasing agent cannot accept compensation directly from tenants, landlords, or other agents.

9Under federal law, lead-based paint disclosure is required for residential dwellings built before:

A.1950

B.1978

C.1990

D.2000

Explanation: The federal Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act (Title X) requires landlords to provide the EPA pamphlet 'Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home,' a disclosure of known lead-based paint, and a 10-day inspection opportunity for properties built before 1978.

10In Illinois, smoke detectors required in dwelling units must, under the 2023 update to the Smoke Detector Act, be:

A.Battery-only, removable batteries

B.Sealed 10-year battery or hardwired (replacement units must meet the 10-year sealed-battery standard for non-hardwired buildings)

C.Only carbon monoxide detectors

D.Optional

Explanation: The Illinois Smoke Detector Act (425 ILCS 60), as amended effective January 1, 2023, requires new or replacement smoke alarms in single- and multi-family dwellings without hardwired systems to be sealed 10-year battery units. Hardwired requirements continue for newer construction.

About the IL Leasing Agent Exam

The Illinois Residential Leasing Agent license is a limited license under the Real Estate License Act of 2000 that authorizes leasing of residential real estate only — no listing or sales. The PSI exam (~75 multiple-choice items in ~3.5 hours) covers Illinois License Law, federal + Illinois fair housing (with state additions like source of income, sexual orientation, gender identity, and military status), Chicago Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (RLTO), Illinois Security Deposit Return Act, the Illinois Eviction Act, required disclosures (lead paint, smoke/CO detectors, bedbug), and agency law.

Questions

75 scored questions

Time Limit

~3.5 hours

Passing Score

75%

Exam Fee

$55 PSI + $125 IDFPR app (Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) — Division of Real Estate; exam delivered by PSI)

IL Leasing Agent Exam Content Outline

20%

Illinois License Law & Scope of Practice

Real Estate License Act of 2000, sponsorship requirements, advertising and blind ad rules, compensation flow through broker, recordkeeping, discipline, renewal

20%

Federal + Illinois Fair Housing

Federal FHA 7 classes, Illinois Human Rights Act additions, Cook County Human Rights Ordinance, steering, reasonable accommodation/modification, source of income

20%

Chicago RLTO & Security Deposits

RLTO coverage/exemptions, deposit receipt, separate insured account, interest, 30/45-day return, penalties (2x deposit + attorney fees), Heat Disclosure, RLTO Summary

15%

Lease Agreements & Required Disclosures

Lease types, Statute of Frauds, required riders (lead paint, RLTO summary, heat), CO/smoke detectors, Chicago Bedbug Ordinance, FCRA tenant screening

15%

Eviction & Habitability

5/10/30-Day Notices, Illinois Eviction Act, implied warranty of habitability, Rental Property Utility Service Act, retaliation, holdover tenants, PTFA

10%

Agency Law & Ethics

Designated agency, dual agency with written consent, statutory duties, confidentiality, UPL, broker supervision

How to Pass the IL Leasing Agent Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 75%
Exam length: 75 questions
Time limit: ~3.5 hours
Exam fee: $55 PSI + $125 IDFPR app

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

IL Leasing Agent Study Tips from Top Performers

1Memorize Chicago RLTO security-deposit timing: written receipt at deposit, separate insured account, 30 days for itemized statement, 45 days for refund, 2x deposit + attorney fees for violations

2Drill all federal FHA protected classes (race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, disability) AND Illinois additions (ancestry, age 40+, marital status, military status, sexual orientation, gender identity, source of income, order of protection)

3Learn the 5/10/30-Day Notice distinctions: 5 = non-payment of rent, 10 = other material lease violation, 30 = month-to-month termination

4Know that the Illinois Security Deposit Return Act applies only to buildings with 5+ units (Chicago RLTO has different coverage rules: exempts owner-occupied 6 or fewer)

5Master the Cook County Just Housing Amendment: Individualized Assessment AFTER conditional offer; most convictions older than 3 years generally cannot be the sole basis for denial

6Remember: all compensation flows through the sponsoring managing broker — direct payment to the leasing agent from a tenant/landlord violates the License Act

Frequently Asked Questions

How hard is the Illinois Residential Leasing Agent exam?

Moderately difficult. The PSI exam covers approximately 75 multiple-choice items in ~3.5 hours and requires 75% to pass. Most candidates pass first-time, but Chicago RLTO security-deposit rules, the Illinois Human Rights Act protected classes, and the Cook County Just Housing Amendment trip up under-prepared candidates.

What does the Illinois leasing agent license let you do?

It permits leasing of residential real estate only, under the supervision of a sponsoring Illinois managing broker. It does NOT authorize listing, selling, or commercial leasing. To expand scope, complete the 75-hour broker pre-license course and pass the Illinois broker exam.

What are the prerequisites for the Illinois leasing agent license?

Age 18+, high school diploma or GED, completion of the 15-hour IDFPR-approved Residential Leasing Agent pre-license course, passing the PSI ILREP exam, and obtaining sponsorship by an Illinois managing broker before performing licensed activity.

What is the most tested topic on the Illinois leasing agent exam?

Chicago RLTO security-deposit rules (separate insured account, written receipt, annual interest set by the City Comptroller, 30-day itemized statement, 45-day refund, and 2x deposit + attorney fees for violations) and Illinois Human Rights Act state-added protected classes (source of income, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military status, ancestry, age 40+) are heavily tested.