- In Indiana, you have the right to live in a rental property that is free of potential health and safety hazards. It is the landlord's duty to maintain the property in a condition that is free of these potentially harmful elements as well as to provide certain safety features like a working smoke detector. You have the right to request, either verbally or orally, that the landlord make repairs to the property to keep your living environment clean and safe.
- You have the right to access your rental property at all times. It is illegal for a landlord to deny a tenant access to his rented property by means of changing locks, barring windows or removing doors. The only way a landlord may deny a tenant entry to a property he is renting is through a court order. A tenant also has the right to continuous use of his utilities such as electricity, gas and water. It is illegal for a landlord to interrupt these services without a court order.
- According to Indiana Legislature, as of July 2007 renters in Indiana have the right to reasonable notice when the landlord desires to enter the property. This is a strong change for renters in Indiana who had no rights to privacy prior to the enactment of this law. A landlord still retains the right to enter a rental property without notice in emergency situations.
- A tenant in the state of Indiana has the right to have his security deposit returned if the rental property is returned to the landlord in good order. It is illegal for a landlord to use a security deposit for the purpose of making repairs to the property as part of normal wear and tear, such as carpet cleaning or repainting walls. A tenant is required to have his security deposit returned to him within 45 days of the end of the lease agreement.
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