Indiana Landlord-Tenant Laws: Complete Guide for Property Owners

Indiana is widely considered a landlord-friendly state, with a legal framework established since statehood on December 11, 1816, and modernized under the current Indiana Code Title 32, Article 31. The state provides property owners with significant flexibility, provided they adhere to the statutory requirements for habitability and the return of security deposits.

Key Indiana Rental Laws at a Glance

Official Law Citation: The rules and regulations outlined on this page are strictly determined by Indiana Code Title 32, Article 31Preview unavailable.

Security Deposits

Indiana does not impose a statutory cap on the amount of a security deposit. While market practice often reflects 1 to 1.5 times the monthly rent, landlords have the legal right to set higher amounts if specified in the lease.

Landlords must return the deposit - or provide a written, itemized list of deductions - within 45 days after the tenant moves out and provides a written forwarding address (IC 32-31-3-12). Failure to meet this deadline can result in the landlord being liable for the full deposit amount plus attorney fees.

For more detail, see our Security DepositsPreview unavailable deep dive.

Eviction Procedures

Indiana requires a strict court-supervised process for possession of property. Self-help evictions (changing locks or shutting off utilities) are strictly prohibited under IC 32-31-5-6. Jurisdiction for most residential evictions lies within the Small Claims Court of the county where the property is located.

Common Eviction Notices

• 10-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit - Statutory default for nonpayment if the lease is silent; it is only required if the lease does not specify a different notice period or waive notice entirely (IC 32-31-1-6).
• Notice to Cure or Quit - For lease violations other than nonpayment; notice period is typically governed by the lease.
• Unconditional Quit Notice - Reserved for illegal activity or waste.
• 30-Day Notice - For terminating month-to-month tenancies (IC 32-31-1-1).

2026 Updates Indiana

Recent legislative sessions enacted SEA 142, which reformed eviction record sealing to improve tenant housing access, and SEA 157 (2024), which established a process where a property owner can request the removal of an unauthorized occupant by filing an affidavit with the sheriff; once served, the occupant has 48 hours to vacate or be removed (effective July 1, 2024).

For more detail, see our Eviction ProcessPreview unavailable guide.

Rent Increases

Indiana has no statewide rent control and explicitly preempts local governments from enacting rent caps (IC 32-31-1-20).

• Month-to-month leases: At least 30 days' written notice before any increase.
• Fixed-term leases: Rent cannot be raised during the lease term unless the lease contains an escalation clause.
• Increases cannot be retaliatory (IC 32-31-8.5).

For more detail, see our Rent IncreasesPreview unavailable guide.

Required Disclosures

Indiana landlords must provide several mandatory disclosures:

1. Lead-Based Paint - For properties built before 1978 (Federal requirement).
2. Landlord/Agent Identity - Name and address of the person authorized to manage the property and receive notices (IC 32-31-3-18).
3. Smoke Detector Acknowledgment - Landlords must provide smoke detectors; tenants must acknowledge in writing that they are functional at move-in (IC 22-11-18-3.5).
4. Flood Zone Information - Mandatory disclosure if the lowest floor of the property is below the 100-year flood elevation (IC 32-31-1-21).
5. Shared Utility Arrangements - Disclosures regarding how costs are allocated if the unit is not individually metered.

For more detail, see our Required DisclosuresPreview unavailable guide.

Maintenance and Habitability

Under Indiana's Landlord Obligations (IC 32-31-8-5), landlords must maintain units in a safe and habitable condition. This includes:

• Complying with all applicable health and housing codes.
• Maintaining electrical, plumbing, heating, and ventilating systems.
• Providing hot and cold running water.
• Maintaining common areas in a clean and proper condition.
• Keeping any appliances provided as part of the rental agreement in working order.

Tenants must provide written notice of any noncompliance and allow the landlord a reasonable time to repair before seeking legal remedies.

For more detail, see our Maintenance ObligationsPreview unavailable guide.

Late Fees

Indiana law does not mandate a grace period and does not cap late fees. However, courts require late fees to be:

• Reasonable and compensatory rather than punitive.
• Clearly stated in the written lease agreement.

For more detail, see our Late FeesPreview unavailable guide.

Lease Requirements

• Leases exceeding three years must be recorded with the county recorder (IC 32-31-2-1).
• Leases longer than one year must be in writing to be enforceable under the Statute of Frauds.
• Oral leases are recognized but not recommended for tenancies longer than month-to-month.

For more detail, see our Lease RequirementsPreview unavailable guide.

Local Ordinances

Several Indiana cities have additional regulations, primarily focused on registration and inspections:

• Indianapolis - Enhanced code enforcement and landlord registration.
• Bloomington - Strict residential rental unit registration and inspection programs.
• Fort Wayne - Local housing code standards and enforcement.

Always check local municipal codes in addition to state law.

Getting Started with Compliance

Managing compliance across Indiana's regulatory landscape is streamlined with Landager. Our platform helps landlords track notice periods, manage mandatory disclosures, and maintain statutory maintenance logs.

Explore more Indiana compliance topics:

• Security DepositsPreview unavailable
• Eviction ProcessPreview unavailable
• Required DisclosuresPreview unavailable
• Rent IncreasesPreview unavailable
• Lease RequirementsPreview unavailable
• Maintenance ObligationsPreview unavailable
• Late FeesPreview unavailable

How Landager Helps

Landager provides automated reminders for lease renewals, tracks disclosure acknowledgments, and maintains a secure audit trail for maintenance requests, ensuring full compliance with Indiana's Article 31 requirements.