The law in plain English
Return deadline
Under 420 Ill. Comp. Stat. 46/20; 765 Ill. Comp. Stat. 710/1; 715/1 to 715/3, the deposit response usually has to be sent within 45 days of the move-out timeline described by the state rule.
Required notice
Illinois generally expects an itemized statement within 30 days and the deposit balance within 45 days after move-out.
This dispute type
Illinois renters usually push back on carpet-cleaning deductions when the landlord appears to be charging for routine turnover rather than a tenant-caused problem. The timing, itemization, and bad-faith rules still matter even when the landlord says the carpet needed extra work.
Penalty leverage
If the withholding was wrongful or in bad faith, the exposure allowed under the statute is: You can recover up to two times the deposit amount as a penalty, plus court costs and attorney's fees