Retaliation by a Landlord

A tenant's protected activity is any of the following.

• Complaining to a government code enforcement agency about a violation that materially affects health or safety.
• Complaining to the landlord in writing about a lockout, a shutoff or the landlord's repair obligations.
• Suing the landlord over those obligations, joining or organizing a tenants' organization, or testifying against the landlord.

• §IC 32-31-8.5-2Statute"Protected activity"Opens iga.in.gov ↗

In response to any of those, a landlord may not raise the rent, cut, end or interfere with services, or bring or threaten an action for possession, eviction, or early termination of the agreement.

• §IC 32-31-8.5-4Statute"Retaliatory act"Opens iga.in.gov ↗
• §IC 32-31-8.5-5StatuteRetaliatory acts by landlord prohibited; nonprohibited acts by landlord; conditions under which landlord may bring certain actionsOpens iga.in.gov ↗

The chapter does not stop a landlord from the following.

• Declining to renew at the end of the term, or raising rent to comparable market levels.
• Cutting a service for all tenants equally.
• Suing for possession where the tenant is behind on rent and did not cure in time, caused the code violation, breached the agreement in a way that materially affects health or safety, or holds over after a fixed term.
• Taking the unit back in good faith at the end of the term to live in it, to renovate in a way that displaces the household, or to stop renting it for at least six months.

• §IC 32-31-8.5-5StatuteRetaliatory acts by landlord prohibited; nonprohibited acts by landlord; conditions under which landlord may bring certain actionsOpens iga.in.gov ↗