Clarify private housing applications and lease requirements, and discover safety tips for finding legitimate rentals. A lease is a legal arrangement between you and a landlord that outlines all the details of your relationship and responsibilities to each other.State and local organizations are distributing money to help landlords and renters struggling to keep up with rent and other bills. A sample lease for tenants and landlords that you can use to create your own version. We're going to guide you on how to handle stuff like application fees and security deposits. In this article, we provide an overview of Illinois rental applications and a free downloadable form that you can use for your rentals. Housing Choice Voucher Program HCV, also known as Section 8 is a housing subsidy that eligible persons receive to reduce their share of the cost of rent. Tenants living in subsidized housing have rights under federal law not covered here. Tenant's Rights and Responsibilities. Residential leases dictate that landlords maintain a livable property condition while tenants must pay rent on time.