Roommate Agreement in Indiana

An agreement between roommates on rent shares, bills, chores and moving out. It is a contract between you — it does not change your lease with the landlord.

What Indiana law says

Roommate not on the lease	In Indiana's security-deposit chapter, a "tenant" is someone who occupies a rental unit for residential purposes, with the landlord's consent, for consideration agreed on by both parties, and a "landlord" includes a sublessor. A roommate who pays the leaseholder under an agreement can be the leaseholder's tenant; one who pays nothing and has no agreement generally is not a tenant under that definition. A general tenancy in which the premises are occupied with the landlord's express or constructive consent is treated as month to month. These definitions apply to the chapter in which they appear; whether a particular roommate is a tenant depends on the facts. Source: IC 32-31-3-3, 32-31-3-10; IC 32-31-1-2
Removing a roommate or subtenant	A leaseholder who sublets to a roommate is that roommate's landlord. A month-to-month or at-will tenancy is ended with one month's written notice (or, for unpaid rent, the 10-day notice), and the roommate is then removed through an eviction case in court. Except by court order, a landlord may not deny or interfere with a tenant's access to or possession of the unit, for example by changing locks or cutting utilities. Source: IC 32-31-1-1, 32-31-1-6, 32-31-3-3; IC 32-31-5-6(c)

Roommate not on the lease

In Indiana's security-deposit chapter, a "tenant" is someone who occupies a rental unit for residential purposes, with the landlord's consent, for consideration agreed on by both parties, and a "landlord" includes a sublessor. A roommate who pays the leaseholder under an agreement can be the leaseholder's tenant; one who pays nothing and has no agreement generally is not a tenant under that definition. A general tenancy in which the premises are occupied with the landlord's express or constructive consent is treated as month to month.

These definitions apply to the chapter in which they appear; whether a particular roommate is a tenant depends on the facts.

Source: IC 32-31-3-3, 32-31-3-10; IC 32-31-1-2

Removing a roommate or subtenant

A leaseholder who sublets to a roommate is that roommate's landlord. A month-to-month or at-will tenancy is ended with one month's written notice (or, for unpaid rent, the 10-day notice), and the roommate is then removed through an eviction case in court. Except by court order, a landlord may not deny or interfere with a tenant's access to or possession of the unit, for example by changing locks or cutting utilities.

Source: IC 32-31-1-1, 32-31-1-6, 32-31-3-3; IC 32-31-5-6(c)

Fill it in

Nothing you type leaves your browser. Replace anything still highlighted, and keep a signed copy.

ROOMMATE AGREEMENT for [rental address]

Roommates: [roommate names]

Rent: total $[total rent] per month. Shares: [each roommate's share]. Each share is paid to [who pays the landlord] by [due date].

Security deposit paid by each roommate: [deposit shares]. When someone moves out, their share is returned [how and when].

Utilities and internet: [how bills are split and who holds each account].

Rooms and shared spaces: [who has which room; shared areas].

Cleaning and chores: [chore plan]. Quiet hours: [quiet hours]. Guests: [overnight guest limits].

Moving out: a roommate who leaves gives [notice period] written notice to the others and [finds a replacement approved by the landlord / pays their share until the lease ends].

Disputes: we will first try to talk it out, then [mediation or small claims court].

Signatures and dates: [signatures]

Roommate Agreement for other states · Indiana tenant rights

General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.