Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Illinois

From your zip you live in or near Belvidere. It may have a landlord-tenant ordinance that covers things like this. If not, Illinois has a state law called the "Illinois Residential Tenants' Right to Repair Act" which allows tenants self-help (including limited rent offsets) if the landlord refuses to make needed repairs w/in 14 days after written notice. If you gave the landlord written notice of the needed repairs you may be safe, but will have to defend your eviction on the landlord's failures after notice. A house without hot water also may be considered not "habitable" and this too is a good defense to a rent/eviction. Also, your building department may be able to get involved but that could result in their putting a 'cease and desist' order on the property requiring you to move out, which may not be helpful, but in a smaller community they may be able to help, and there may be an 'ombudsman' office that can help mediate your situation. But without all the facts, and being out of area, this is not something I can give you fully sound legal advice on. But the point is you do have options to defend the situation -- including the fact that landlords can't evict by "retaliation" (ie they can't evict because you assert your legal rights). Best bet: call a local attorney for help asap!