Illinois Leasing Agent Practice Exam

If a landlord revokes a tenant's option to renew their lease, what course of action can the tenant take?

1. Negotiate a new lease

2. Vacate the premises immediately

3. File a complaint with the housing authority

4. Sue the landlord for performance of the lease

The correct answer is: Sue the landlord for performance of the lease

When a landlord revokes a tenant's option to renew their lease, the tenant has the right to take legal action to enforce their rights under the lease agreement. The correct course of action involves suing the landlord for performance of the lease. This legal action is appropriate because the lease is a binding contract, and if the landlord has denied the tenant their contractual right to renew, the tenant is entitled to seek remedies. A lawsuit for performance of the lease may involve seeking specific performance, where the tenant asks the court to compel the landlord to honor the renewal option as originally agreed upon in the lease. This reflects the principle that parties to a contract have legal obligations to fulfill their commitments. The other options may not effectively address the situation: - Negotiating a new lease may not be possible if the tenant has a rightful option to renew the existing lease, which the landlord is improperly revoking. - Vacating the premises immediately would not be a suitable reaction, as the tenant has rights to the lease that should be pursued legally rather than leaving the property without resolving the contract issue. - Filing a complaint with the housing authority may not provide a direct remedy for the breach of contract since housing authorities typically deal with violations of health and safety standards rather than civil disputes over breach