INDIANAPOLIS — During periods of extreme heat, such as this week in central Indiana, many renters may have questions about their rights when it comes to keeping cool inside their homes.
According to the renter resource program Housing4Hoosiers, there is a "warranty of habitability" regulating rental properties in Indiana, which is aimed at ensuring a safe and clean place to live.
"Rental units must ... be kept up to code regarding structural integrity and weatherproofing," the program said.
If there are problems with your air conditioning as a renter, you must give your landlord notice of the problem and a reasonable time to fix it. The program recommends putting a date on the notice and keeping a copy for yourself.
If conditions are bad, you can also contact your local board of health or code enforcement office to report the conditions.
The program shared the following recommendations for rents in need of assistance:
- Contact your utility vendor to learn about payment plan options they offer.
- Call 2-1-1 or visit their website at www.211.org for a list of other organizations and churches near you that may also have utility assistance funds. (Daviess County can call 1-812-257-2650 or visit the Daviess County Connections Partnership, Inc., website at dcpconnections.org instead of 211.)
- Visit salvationarmyusa.org/usn/rent-mortgage-and-utility-assistance/ to find resources for utility payment assistance near you.
- Your community action agency in your county may have knowledge about other local resources.
Tenants with questions about habitability during extreme heat are urged to visit indianalegalhelp.org for free legal guidance.
