Indiana

Indiana Landlord Tenant Law

Indiana Landlord Tenant Law protects the rights of landlords and tenants and establishes joint responsibilities. The statutes provide remedies should one of the parties breach their lease or the law. The statutes are set forth in the Indiana Code Title 32 Article 31, Landlord – Tenant Relations.

This information is not intended to substitute for legal advice. Should you have questions regarding Indiana Landlord Tenant Law, you should consult an attorney.

Indiana Landlord Tenant Law

Stay up to date on
Indiana Landlord Tenant Laws
+
Save money on tenant screening
and other property management needs.

Join AAOA today, it’s FREE!

Indiana Landlord Tenant Law – Security Deposits

Now that the landlord has run a tenant background check and extended a residential lease offer to the tenant, landlords may require a tenant to pay a security deposit before granting access to the premises. Within 45 days of termination of the tenancy, the landlord must return the security deposit to the tenant. Landlords may deduct an amount from the security deposit to recover costs related to damage to the property at the end of the tenancy, but not for normal wear and tear. Landlords may also recover past due rent by withholding the amount of past due rent or utilities from the security deposit.

Indiana Landlord Tenant Law requires landlords to send the remainder of the security deposit to the tenant’s forwarding address. If a landlord fails to provide the tenant with a list of alleged damages in writing within the required time limit, the landlord forfeits the right to retain any portion of the security deposit, as explained by LawServer. Include the Disposition of Security Deposit with your Indiana Landlord Forms and you have a document that allows you to explain in writing if any portion of the security deposit is withheld and why.

IN Landlord-Tenant Lawyers Available 24/7

Find the best Indiana real estate attorney for your situation.

 

 

Indiana Landlord Tenant Law – Miscellaneous Statutes

Smoke Detectors

Under IC 32-31-5-7, Written acknowledgement by tenant, the landlord must require the tenant’s written signature, acknowledging that the premises is equipped with a smoke detector. The smoke detector requirement under Indiana Landlord Tenant Law cannot be waived, so it is important to include the Smoke Detector Notice with your Indiana Landlord Forms.

Notice to quit; when not necessary

Under Indiana Landlord Tenant Law, IC 32-31-1-8 there are specific situations in which a proper notice to quit is not required to legally terminate the tenancy. These circumstances include:

(1) The landlord agrees to rent the premises to the tenant for a specified period of time.

(2) The time for the determination of the tenancy is specified in the contract.

(3) A tenant at will commits waste.

(4) The tenant is a tenant at sufferance.

(5) The express terms of the contract require the tenant to pay the rent in advance, and the tenant refuses or neglects to pay the rent in advance.

(6) The landlord-tenant relationship does not exist.

For purposes of Indiana Landlord Tenant Laws, “waste” does not include failure of the tenant to pay rent. It may include the tenant’s threat to commit damage to the property or actions of committing damage. The court may find that the landlord has suffered or is at risk of suffering, injury, loss or damage.

Pet deposits

There are no statutes regarding pet deposits under Indiana Landlord Tenant Law.

Indiana Landlord Tenant Laws are in place to protect the rights of both landlords and tenants. You can comply with all the relevant statutes when you conduct thorough Indiana Tenant Screening and when you always have Indiana Landlord Forms on hand for the various situations that arise during a tenancy.

Indiana Tenant Screening Background Checks

A key component of landlord tenant laws is also Indiana Tenant Screening Background Checks. We’ve dedicated an entire page to it because of its importance. Visit Indiana Tenant Screening Background Checks to screen your tenant.

Indiana Landlord Forms

All states require a variety of forms to rent an apartment to a tenant and Indiana is no exception. Check out American Apartment Owners Association’s Indiana Landlord Forms now.

Nationwide Landlord Tenant Laws

Looking for landlord tenant laws outside of Indiana? The American Apartment Owners Association offers helpful landlord tenant laws, as well as tenant screening, for all 50 states. Click on any of the states listed below and go directly to its landlord tenant laws page.

Reminder: This information is a general explanation and summary of Indiana Landlord Tenant Law but is in no way meant to substitute for legal advice, nor does it list all the statutes under the Indiana Residential Landlord Tenant Act.