Deposit w/o lease signed, tenant changes mind

[James Fowler]

Hello all,

We are in Illinois, but I'm assuming this may be good for myself and others down the road to hear responses to.

Have a qualified prospective tenant who was to sign a lease a week from now, and had paid a deposit to hold the unit weeks before that.

A deposit held for a unit with verbal and written transaction record enough to hold firm to that commitment? Our is there legality I'm unaware of, setting the tone why we would must give that back?

We have turned down others for this unit since taking the deposit, and the owner may not be willing, unless legally required.

Does anyone have any insight to a situation like this?