The landlord and tenant statutes are located in Title 32, Article 31 of the Indiana state code. There are 9 chapters that cover aspects of a landlord-tenant agreement, such as tenant obligations, landlord obligations, security deposits, and general provisions. Indiana code gives rights to landlords and tenants with regards to the residential rental unit, possession of the unit, and legal recourse. Indiana does not have an extensive landlord-tenant act like other states do, so some Indiana cities have their own housing codes.

Tenant Rights

A Indiana tenant has rights and protection under the Indiana code covering the landord-tenant relationship. A tenant has the right to a safe home, called an implied warranty of habitability. The rental unit must be up to housing code standards prior to a tenant moving in, or the habitability clause is breached. Securitydeposit laws give the tenant the right to receive the security deposit, minus any damages, within 45 days of leaving the rental unit.

Chapter 9 of Indiana code deals with tenant rights, when the tenant is a victim of a crime. The tenant is protected against retaliatory action from a landlord who might discriminate against a crime victim. The tenant also has the right to have locks changed and has the ability to terminate the rental agreement with 30-days notice.

Landlord Rights

A landlord has the right to enter the rental unit, although he cannot enter any time he wishes. The landlord first gives reasonable notice to visit at reasonable hours. Neither instance of reasonable is defined in the Indiana code, but most landlords give 24-hour notice and enter during normal business hours. The reasons of entry include requested repairs, inspection, maintenance, court order, abandonment, showing the apartment to prospective tenants, or emergencies. The landlord also has the right to terminate tenancy and pursue an eviction case for tenants who do not pay owed rent, or violate a lease term and do not quit the property when notice is delivered.