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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. February 7, 2024 — Prosperity Indiana, in partnership with the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA), announces the release of the latest version of Renting in Indiana, a handbook for tenants that is currently available online at Housing4Hoosiers.com. The updated handbook contains a step-by-step guide and informational how-to manual for renting in Indiana.
“Many individuals and organizations across the state work with Hoosiers to find suitable housing that will meet their immediate and long-term needs,” said Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch, who also serves as Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “The updated Indiana Tenant Handbook is a resource not only for renters and landlords, but for those that work daily to facilitate that crucial relationship.”
The new handbook, the first update since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, walks Hoosier tenants through every step of the rental process; from looking for the right rental property to managing a potential eviction.
There are 774,845 renter households in Indiana. “We frequently get calls from tenants throughout the state regarding their rental and/or landlord relationship. Many renters are unsure of what their lease states, what their landlord can legally do, or what their legal rights as tenants are. This has highlighted a need for additional resources and education not just for Hoosier renters, but also for landlords, service providers, and lawmakers,” said Aspen Clemons, Executive Director, Prosperity Indiana.
Renting in Indiana: A Handbook for Tenants is a general guide to help Hoosier renters make smart choices and make renting in Indiana a positive experience. The handbook walks a tenant through the entire rental process beginning with how to budget and determine how much monthly rent you can afford, how to make a list of needs for your rental property, and what to look for when viewing potential properties. The handbook reviews several types of leases; common leasing clauses, what to look for, and how to negotiate lease terms with a landlord. The handbook also outlines tenant responsibilities, best practices for good landlord-tenant relationships, how to communicate issues with your landlord, and what resources are available for a tenant when an issue arises. The newest addition to the handbook also includes a section focused on handling eviction. In the past year, there have been 74,727 eviction filings in Indiana.
Renting in Indiana includes additional resources such as worksheets as well as provides information on organizations that offer assistance on issues ranging from discrimination to domestic violence support.
“This was truly a collaborative effort, bringing together legal aid partners, service providers, and housing advocates to provide our Hoosier renters with the most comprehensive guide on how to be a successful tenant in Indiana,” said Marie Beason, Capacity Building Director, Prosperity Indiana.
Renters can access the Renting in Indiana handbook either here on the Housing4Hoosiers website or on Prosperity Indiana's website.
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