Philip Devon, staff attorney with the Metropolitan Tenants Organization, said unlawful lockouts occur when a housing provider “attempts to dispossess, oust, or otherwise interrupt a renter's tenancy without a court order,” and urged tenants to act immediately if locked out.

Devon said, “Anytime a tenant is locked out, they should report it to the police immediately.” He added that tenants “do have the right to reenter their unit, and landlords can be fined for an illegal lockout,” and that tenants “may also go to court and initiate a case to recover damages that they suffer as a result of any illegal lockout.”

The Metropolitan Tenants Organization contracts with the City of Evanston to help answer questions and resolve issues between housing providers and tenants, Devon said. No specific ordinance, statute, or local enforcement procedure was cited in these remarks.