Tenant/Landlord Rights

What are my rights as a tenant/landlord?

FAIR HOUSING, HABITABILITY, LEGAL ASSISTANCE, AND MEDIATION

Knowing one’s rights as a renter and how to get help is an important part of housing stability. Depending on your needs, agencies that provide guidance or services for fair housing, habitability, legal assistance, or mediation may be able to help.

fair housing

fair housing

Fair housing is about exercising a choice and choosing where you want to live based upon your own economics. 

Federal and state fair housing laws protect against housing discrimination, in which an individual or family is treated unequally when trying to buy, rent, lease, sell or finance a home based on certain characteristics, such as race, class, sex, religion, national origin, and familial status.

Habitability

Habitability

Guidance to help tenants with understanding their rights to a safe and livable rental home, and what to do if there is a problem.

legal assistance

legal assistance

Legal organizations can help tenants who wish to remain in their home, or reduce the amount of money they might owe their landlord.

mediation

mediation

Mediation helps disputing parties communicate and understand their concerns and needs in a situation, identify and consider possible solution options, reach a mutually agreeable solution, and put the agreement into a written form.

Fair housing is about exercising a choice and choosing where you want to live based upon your own economics. Federal and state fair housing laws protect against housing discrimination, in which an individual or family is treated unequally when trying to buy, rent, lease, sell or finance a home based on certain characteristics, such as race, class, sex, religion, national origin, and familial status.

Mediation helps disputing parties communicate and understand their concerns and needs in a situation, identify and consider possible solution options, reach a mutually agreeable solution and put the agreement into a written form.

Tenants may be able to get legal advice to help them remain in their home, or reduce the amount of money they might owe their landlord.

It is essential to contact your Township Trustee or seek assistance from social service agencies as soon as you realize you may need help. Waiting until the last minute to seek assistance may mean it is too late to get help.

TENANT/LANDLORD RIGHTS table

LocationServiceContactTypeDetails
Monroe County: Bloomington Indiana Student Legal Services – Bloomington, Indiana
Bloomington, IN
(812) 855-7867
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visit website 		Legal Assistance IUSLS provides IU-Bloomington students with advice and representation in landlord-tenant matters, including: security deposit refunds and disputes, habitability issues, evictions, subleases, and lease analysis.

Office hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. They do not take walk-in appointments. You must submit an online intake form through their website.
Monroe County: Bloomington Eviction Prevention Project (EPP)
205 S. Walnut St. Suite 16
Bloomington, Indiana 47404
(812) 340-8189
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Legal Assistance, Mediation EPP provides free legal advice, mediation services, and social service referrals to pro se landlords and tenants facing eviction in Monroe County. Call to make an appointment: Monday-Friday 9am-5pm (be sure to leave a voicemail)


Indiana Renting in Indiana: A Handbook for Tenants and Landlords
 visit website Habitability A guidebook for understanding leases, security deposits and other issues related to renting a home. Available as a free download on the Housing4Hoosiers website. The website is also a resource to help renters, landlords, and property managers understand more about their rights and responsibilities with rental housing.
Indiana Indiana Legal Services
 (812) 339-7668
visit website 		Legal Assistance ILS is a nonprofit law firm that provides free civil legal assistance to eligible low-income people throughout the state of Indiana. Apply online on their website.
Indiana Indiana Legal Help
 visit website Legal Assistance The Coalition for Court Access helps people across Indiana looking for civil legal help with non-criminal issues including family, housing, and healthcare.  This service offers free legal information, court forms, and various resources for people who represent themselves in court.
Indiana Indiana Free Legal Answers
 visit website Legal Assistance Free legal answers to low income people with civil legal questions.
Monroe County: Bloomington Community Justice & Mediation Center
205 S Walnut St
Suite 16
Bloomington, IN 47404
(812) 336-8677
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visit website 		Mediation CJAM mediators help parties such as landlords and tenants work through a disagreement or conflict.
Monroe County: Bloomington City of Bloomington Housing & Neighborhood Development Department
401 N Morton St
Suite 130
Bloomington, IN 47404
(812) 349-3420
visit website 		Habitability The HAND Department investigates rental complaints about violations of the Residential Rental Unit and Lodging Establishment Inspection Program.
Indiana Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana
 (317) 644-0673
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visit website 		Fair Housing The mission of the Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana (FHCCI) is to ensure equal housing opportunities by eliminating housing discrimination through advocacy, enforcement, education and outreach. Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm