Domestic Violence and a Lease

A tenant protected by a civil protection order or a criminal no contact order may end the rental agreement with written notice at least 30 days before the termination date, with a copy of the order and, for a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault, a safety plan from an accredited program, dated within 30 days, that recommends relocating.

• §IC 32-31-9-12StatuteTermination of rental agreements by protected individuals; written notices; liabilityOpens iga.in.gov ↗

The tenant owes rent prorated to the termination date and nothing more for ending early, and is entitled to deposits and refunds as if the lease had simply expired. Ending it at least fourteen days before first having the right to move in carries no damages or penalties.

• §IC 32-31-9-12StatuteTermination of rental agreements by protected individuals; written notices; liabilityOpens iga.in.gov ↗

• A landlord changes the locks within 48 hours of the tenant's written request with a copy of the order, where the person restrained is not a tenant of the same unit, and gives the tenant a key.
• A landlord may not end, refuse to renew, refuse to enter, or retaliate over a lease solely because a tenant, applicant or household member is protected, or ended a lease under the chapter.

• §IC 32-31-9-8StatuteLease protections; prohibition of retaliation by landlordOpens iga.in.gov ↗
• §IC 32-31-9-9StatuteChange of lock requirementsOpens iga.in.gov ↗

No city, town or county may penalize a tenant, owner or landlord, by a fine, fee or eviction, for a call for police or emergency help made by or for a victim of abuse or crime or someone in an emergency who reasonably believed help was needed.

• §IC 32-31-1-22StatuteRequests for law enforcement or emergency assistance; political subdivisions prohibited from imposing penalties for requests believed necessary to prevent abuse, crime, or emergency; exceptionsOpens iga.in.gov ↗