Free Indiana Lease Agreement Template

An Indiana lease agreement is a written contract between a landlord and a tenant that sets the terms for renting a residential property in Indiana. It covers rent, security deposits, late fees, repairs, and basic rules for using the property.

Landlords use an Indiana lease agreement when renting out a house, apartment, condo, or room. Putting these terms in writing helps both sides understand their duties and stay aligned with Indiana’s landlord-tenant laws.

Your Indiana lease agreement should reflect key state rules, including:

• Rent control: Indiana does not allow local governments to regulate private residential rent unless the legislature authorizes it (IN Code § 32-31-1-20).
• Security deposit limit: No state maximum. Landlords can set any reasonable amount (no statute).
• Security deposit return: Landlords must return the deposit, minus lawful deductions, within 45 days and provide an itemized list of any charges (IN Code § 32-31-3-12).
• Late fees: No statutory cap. Fees must be reasonable and clearly stated in the lease.
• Grace period: No automatic grace period. For unpaid rent, landlords typically must give a 10-day notice to pay or move out (IN Code § 32-31-1-6).
• Landlord licensing: No statewide rental license requirement, but some cities may have local rules.
• Landlord entry: Indiana law does not set a specific notice period, but 24 hours’ notice is widely recommended for non-emergencies.

Document Genius’s guided form helps you reflect these rules so your Indiana lease agreement stays consistent with state law.

Indiana gives landlords flexibility on deposit amounts but sets firm rules for how deposits are handled at move-out:

• Maximum deposit: No statutory cap. Landlords may charge any amount that is reasonable and agreed in the lease.
• Receipts and interest: Indiana law does not require a written receipt or interest on deposits (unless a local rule applies).
• Permitted uses: Landlords may use the deposit for unpaid rent, damages beyond normal wear and tear, and unpaid utilities or sewer charges owed under the lease (IN Code § 32-31-3-13).
• Return deadline: Within 45 days of lease termination, landlords must either return the deposit or send an itemized list of deductions with any remaining balance (IN Code § 32-31-3-12).
• Forwarding address: Tenants must give a forwarding address in writing to receive the deposit and accounting.

Spelling out the deposit amount, allowed deductions, and return timeline in your Indiana lease agreement makes move-out easier for both sides.

Your lease should clearly explain how, when, and where rent is paid. Under Indiana law:

• Rent due date: Rent is due on the date listed in the lease. If the lease is silent, rent is generally due at the start of each rental period.
• Rent control: Indiana prohibits local rent control for privately owned property (IN Code § 32-31-1-20).
• Rent increases: For month-to-month leases, landlords typically provide at least 30 days’ written notice before increasing rent.
• Late fees: No statewide cap. Late fees must be reasonable and listed in the lease to be enforced.
• Non-payment of rent: Before filing an eviction, landlords usually must give a 10-day notice to pay rent or quit (IN Code § 32-31-1-6).

Document Genius helps you outline payment methods, due dates, late fees, and notice rules so your Indiana lease agreement is clear from day one.

Indiana law does not set a specific minimum notice period for landlord entry. However, best practice is to:

• Give reasonable notice: At least 24 hours’ notice is commonly used for inspections, repairs, or showings.
• Use reasonable hours: Schedule visits during normal daytime hours unless the tenant agrees otherwise.
• Emergencies: In true emergencies, such as fire, major leaks, or safety threats, landlords may enter without advance notice.

Including entry rules in your Indiana lease agreement helps build trust and avoid conflicts over privacy.

Both landlords and tenants have clear responsibilities under Indiana law.

Landlord responsibilities

• Habitability: Provide the rental in a safe, clean, and habitable condition and keep it that way (IN Code § 32-31-8-5).
• Health and housing codes: Comply with all applicable health and housing codes.
• Common areas: Keep shared spaces clean and in proper condition.
• Essential systems: Maintain electrical, plumbing, heating, and other essential systems in good and safe working order if provided on the premises (Indiana Justice Project, 2024).

Tenant responsibilities

• Keep the unit reasonably clean and safe.
• Use fixtures, appliances, and systems properly.
• Avoid damaging the property beyond normal wear and tear.
• Report serious repair issues to the landlord promptly (IN Code § 32-31-7-5).

Document Genius’s guided form helps you describe how repair requests should be made and how quickly you expect to respond.

Indiana landlords must share certain information with tenants, often in or alongside the lease agreement:

• Landlord or agent identification: Tenants must know who manages the property and who can receive legal notices (IN Code § 32-31-3-18).
• Smoke detector acknowledgment: At move-in, tenants must sign a statement confirming the rental unit has a working smoke detector (IN Code § 32-31-5-7).
• Flood plain disclosure: If the lowest floor (including a basement) is at or below the 100-year flood elevation, the lease must clearly state that the structure is in a flood plain (IN Code § 32-31-1-21).
• Water and sewage services: Landlords must disclose any water and sewer services they provide directly (IN Code § 8-1-2-1.2).
• Lead-based paint disclosure: For homes built before 1978, federal law requires a lead-based paint disclosure and EPA pamphlet (42 U.S.C. § 4852d).

Document Genius makes it easier to include these disclosures so your Indiana lease agreement stays compliant and transparent.

Your lease should explain how either party can end the tenancy. Under Indiana law:

• Fixed-term leases: Usually end on the date in the lease. If the tenant stays and the landlord accepts rent, the tenancy can convert to a month-to-month arrangement.
• Month-to-month leases: Either party may generally terminate with at least 30 days’ written notice before the next rental period begins.
• Non-payment of rent: Landlords typically must give tenants a 10-day notice to pay or quit before filing an eviction (IN Code § 32-31-1-6).
• Abandoned property: If a tenant abandons the unit, landlords may remove and dispose of personal property after following the procedures in Indiana’s abandoned property laws (IN Code § 32-31-4-2).

Document Genius guides you through adding notice periods and move-out rules so your Indiana lease agreement sets clear expectations from the start.