Housing (Landlords)

Requires a landlord to provide notice at least five days before filing an eviction that includes the following: (1) The amount owed. (2) A calculation of late fees. (3) Acceptable methods of payment. (4) The date the landlord intends to file an eviction if charges remain unpaid. Provides methods of written notice. Provides that notice is not required to terminate a lease if the landlord has met other notice requirements. Requires a landlord to complete required repairs issued by an eligible enforcement authority and meet standards required by a county health department. Repeals a provision concerning refusal or neglect to pay rent and corresponding notice requirements.

Establishes the access to counsel in eviction task force (task force) to review matters related to the eviction process and potential funding sources to increase a tenant's access to counsel in an eviction proceeding. Sets forth membership, and requires the task force to issue a report to the legislative council. Provides that the task force expires December 31, 2026.

Requires a landlord to provide and maintain a rental premises that is free from the following: (1) Pests, including rodents and invasive insects. (2) Mold. (3) Rot. Sets forth a procedure for a tenant to use to initiate a request for repairs. Requires, under certain circumstances, a landlord to repair or replace an essential system not later than 72 hours after being notified by a tenant that the tenant's rental unit is without essential services. Defines "essential services" and "essential system". Allows for certain remedies to the tenant for the landlord's noncompliance, including a procedure for the deposit of rent that is due with the clerk of the court if the landlord fails or refuses to make repairs or take remedial action. Provides that, after June 30, 2026, a landlord may not manage a rental property in Indiana unless the landlord: (1) is authorized to do business in Indiana; (2) maintains an office at one or more physical locations in Indiana; or (3) appoints an Indiana licensed real estate broker or broker company to manage the rental property.

Requires a landlord to repair or replace an essential item not later than 24 hours after being notified by a tenant that the tenant's rental unit is without certain essential services. Provides that a tenant may request an agency tasked with enforcing unsafe building provisions (enforcement authority) to conduct an inspection and replace or repair an essential item within 24 hours of the inspection. Authorizes the enforcement authority to replace or repair an essential item within 24 hours and to charge the landlord for certain costs and to order a $500 civil penalty to be paid. Requires any civil penalties to be placed in a repair fund to be used for costs incurred by the enforcement authority to replace or repair an essential item. Establishes appeal procedures. Requires a rental agreement entered into after June 30, 2026, to include a provision allowing a tenant to be reimbursed for any deposits paid by the tenant and to terminate the rental agreement if certain repairs are not made within seven days. Allows a court to order that a tenant's regular rental payments are paid into an attorney trust account or to the clerk of the court during the pendency of an enforcement action brought by the tenant.

Provides that a landlord may not sell a residential rental property that is subject to an unexpired written lease unless the landlord gives written notice to the tenant not less than 60 days before the landlord lists the property for sale, unless certain exceptions apply. Requires a buyer of a residential rental property to honor an unexpired written lease between the previous owner and a tenant unless the buyer of the residential rental property: (1) gives to the tenant, not less than 30 days before the lease is terminated, written notice that the buyer intends to terminate the lease; and (2) pays the tenant an amount equal to one monthly rental payment plus the full security deposit. For purposes of a residential rental unit, defines: (1) "essential services" as certain utility services needed for the safe and habitable occupation by a tenant of the tenant's rental unit; and (2) "essential systems" as certain systems used to deliver essential services to a rental unit. Requires a landlord to repair or replace an essential system not later than 48 hours after being notified by a tenant that the tenant's rental unit is without essential services as a result of: (1) a malfunction in the essential system; or (2) the landlord's failure to maintain the system in good and safe working condition. Provides that, during the pendency of a court action brought by a tenant to enforce a statutory obligation of a landlord, the court may order the tenant to make the regular rental payments otherwise due to the landlord under the rental agreement to: (1) the clerk of the court; or (2) an attorney trust account; to be held in trust for disbursal to the prevailing party, as ordered by the court. For purposes of the rights of tenants who are victims of certain crimes, provides that evidence showing a tenant engaged in a protected activity not more than six months before the landlord's alleged retaliatory conduct creates a rebuttable presumption that the purpose of the landlord's conduct was retaliation. Specifies the evidence a landlord may show to rebut the presumption. Requires a landlord to pay all penalties or fines imposed by a political subdivision for violation of the landlord's obligations with regard to a rental premises. Requires a landlord to pay all penalties or fines and make all repairs required by a political subdivision before the landlord may deliver the rental premises to a tenant.

Prohibits a landlord from doing the following in connection with an applicant's application for the rental of a rental unit: (1) Making a hard inquiry to a consumer reporting agency or to a specialty consumer reporting agency for an applicant's consumer report or for information in an applicant's consumer report. (2) Obtaining or using a tenant screening report that includes information that is obtained through a hard inquiry to a consumer reporting agency or to a specialty consumer reporting agency for an applicant's consumer report or for information in an applicant's consumer report. Defines "hard inquiry" for purposes of these provisions as an inquiry that: (1) is noted on the consumer report of the applicant for a period of time following the inquiry; and (2) negatively impacts the applicant's credit score. Provides that a landlord that violates the bill's provisions commits a deceptive act that is actionable by an applicant and the attorney general under the Indiana statute concerning deceptive consumer sales.