Indiana landlord-tenant law FAQ
20 answers to common Indiana landlord questions. Every answer is a verified fact with its official source and last-checked date.
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Indiana?
No maximum. Indiana's security deposit chapter governs return and deductions but sets no cap on the amount.
Verified Source: IC 32-31-3 · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full security deposit limit page
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Indiana?
Itemized notice of deductions and the balance are due within 45 days after the lease ends and possession is delivered.
Verified Source: IC 32-31-3-12(a) · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full deposit return deadline page
How much notice does a landlord have to give before entering a rental in Indiana?
Reasonable written or oral notice of intent to enter (no fixed hours in the statute), at reasonable times; no notice needed in an emergency.
Verified Source: IC 32-31-5-6(f), (g) · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full notice to enter page
How much notice does a landlord need to give to raise the rent in Indiana?
Unless a written rental agreement says otherwise, at least 30 days' written notice before modifying the rental agreement (including rent).
Verified Source: IC 32-31-5-4 · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full rent increase notice page
Can a landlord charge a late fee in Indiana, and how much?
Indiana's landlord-tenant law (Ind. Code art. 32-31 (Landlord-Tenant Relations), chs. 1–12, read in full on 2026-10-15) sets no late-fee cap; the lease terms control.
Verified Source: Ind. Code art. 32-31 (Landlord-Tenant Relations), chs. 1–12 · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full late fees page
What notice does a landlord have to give before evicting for unpaid rent in Indiana?
At least 10 days' notice to terminate for unpaid rent, unless the parties agreed otherwise or the tenant pays in full before the notice expires.
Verified Source: IC 32-31-1-6 · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full eviction notice (nonpayment) page
Can cities in Indiana pass rent control?
Yes. Local units may not regulate rental rates for private property (or deposits, fees, lease terms and similar matters) unless the General Assembly authorizes it.
Verified Source: IC 32-31-1-20 · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full rent control / state preemption page
How much notice is needed to end a month-to-month tenancy in Indiana?
A tenancy at will (month-to-month) may be ended with 1 month's written notice. For periodic tenancies of 3 months or less, notice equal to the rental period is sufficient.
Verified Source: IC 32-31-1-1, 32-31-1-4 · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full ending a month-to-month tenancy page
Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in Indiana?
Indiana's security deposit chapter (IC 32-31-3) sets no requirement that landlords pay interest on deposits (whole chapter read).
Verified Source: IC 32-31-3 · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full interest on deposits page
Is a move-in or move-out inspection checklist required in Indiana?
Indiana's landlord-tenant statutes (IC 32-31, including the security deposit chapter 32-31-3) require no move-in inspection or condition checklist (full chapters read).
Verified Source: IC 32-31-3; IC 32-31 · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full move-in/move-out checklist page
Is landlord retaliation illegal in Indiana?
A landlord may not retaliate against a tenant for protected activity: complaining to a code agency about health or safety violations, complaining in writing to the landlord about violations of IC 32-31-5-6 or 32-31-8-5, suing under IC 32-31-6 or -8, joining a tenants' organization, or testifying against the landlord. Prohibited retaliation includes raising rent, cutting services, or bringing or threatening an eviction. The landlord may still decline to renew, raise rent to market, or cut services to all tenants equally. Local units may not regulate retaliation.
Verified Source: IC 32-31-8.5-2, -4, -5, -6 · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full retaliation protections page
Can a landlord change the locks or shut off utilities in Indiana?
Banned. Except by court order, a landlord may not change locks or add devices to exclude the tenant, remove doors, windows, fixtures or appliances, or cut off electricity, gas, water or other essential services (except for emergencies, good-faith repairs or necessary construction). Doesn't apply to abandoned units.
Verified Source: IC 32-31-5-6 · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full lockouts and utility shutoffs page
What can a tenant do if the landlord won't make repairs in Indiana?
After notice and a reasonable time to repair, a tenant may sue to enforce the landlord's maintenance obligations, recovering actual and consequential damages, attorney's fees and injunctive relief.
Verified Source: IC 32-31-8-6 · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full repairs and habitability remedies page
What disclosures must a landlord give tenants in Indiana?
At or before the start of the lease, the landlord must disclose in writing the names and addresses of an Indiana-resident manager and an Indiana-resident agent for service and notices.
Verified Source: IC 32-31-3-18 · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full required lease disclosures page
What can a landlord do with property a tenant leaves behind in Indiana?
The landlord has no liability for property a tenant abandoned (as a reasonable person would conclude). After winning possession in court, the landlord may get an order allowing removal of the tenant's property to a warehouse or approved storage.
Verified Source: IC 32-31-4-2, 32-31-4-3 · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full abandoned property page
Can a tenant break a lease early for domestic violence or military service in Indiana?
A protected individual (e.g. a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault with a protection or no-contact order) may end a lease with 30 days' written notice. The notice must include the order and, for DV or sexual assault, a safety plan from an accredited program, dated within 30 days and recommending relocation.
Verified Source: IC 32-31-9-12 · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full early termination (dv/military) page
Is there a grace period before a late fee can be charged in Indiana?
Indiana's landlord-tenant statutes (IC 32-31) set no late-fee grace period or cap (full chapters read).
Verified Source: IC 32-31 · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full late fee grace period page
Can the city inspect my rental property in Indiana?
Cities and counties may run rental inspection programs. Since July 1, 2014, though, they generally can't inspect or charge an inspection fee for a unit managed by a professional real estate manager if it was inspected in the past 12 months by a qualifying agency, lender, insurer or licensed inspector (other conditions apply).
Verified Source: Ind. Code § 36-1-20-4.1 · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full rental inspections page
What is the domestic violence early termination rule in Indiana?
A protected individual, such as a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault with a protection or no-contact order, may end the lease by written notice given at least 30 days before the termination date. Code text: "A protected individual who is a tenant may terminate the protected individual's rights and obligations under a rental agreement by providing the landlord with a written notice of termination."
Verified Source: IC 32-31-9-12 · last checked 2026-10-16 · Full domestic violence early termination page
What is the military lease termination (federal scra, all states) rule in Indiana?
Federal law that applies in every state: under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, a tenant may end a residential lease after entering military service, or after getting permanent-change-of-station orders or deployment orders of at least 90 days, by delivering written notice and a copy of the orders to the landlord. For a lease with monthly rent, termination takes effect 30 days after the next rent due date following delivery of the notice. Any state-specific rule on this page also applies. Code text: "The lessee on a lease described in subsection (b) may, at the lessee's option, terminate the lease at any time after."
Verified Source: 50 U.S.C. § 3955 (federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act) · last checked 2026-10-16 · Full military lease termination (federal scra, all states) page
Indiana cities with their own rules
- Bloomington landlord rules
- Carmel landlord rules
- Evansville landlord rules
- Indianapolis landlord rules
- Kendallville landlord rules
- Merrillville landlord rules
- Michigan City landlord rules
- Munster landlord rules
- Speedway landlord rules
All Indiana landlord-tenant law
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