Indiana Lockouts, Utility Shutoffs & Retaliation
Indiana rules on lockouts, utility shutoffs & retaliation for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: According to the Indiana courts' Small Claims Manual, a landlord may not lock a tenant out unless the tenant has abandoned the home, and an illegal lockout can lead to punitive damages. Indiana Office of Court Services, Small Claims Manual (2026, updated 12/23/2025), pp. 31-32, 36-38
The rules in Indiana
| Lockouts and illegal eviction | According to the Indiana courts' Small Claims Manual, a landlord may not lock a tenant out unless the tenant has abandoned the home, and an illegal lockout can lead to punitive damages. A tenant locked out by changed locks can file a small claims case for emergency possessory relief. A landlord also may not hold a tenant's belongings as security for unpaid rent unless a court allows it, and removing a tenant with the sheriff requires a court order. |
|---|---|
| Landlord shutting off utilities | According to the Indiana courts' Small Claims Manual, a landlord generally may shut off utilities only when the tenant has abandoned the home and the utilities are in the landlord's name. An illegal utility shutoff can lead to a judgment for punitive damages against the landlord. A tenant whose landlord interrupts or shuts off utilities or other essential services can file a small claims case for emergency possessory relief. |
| Landlord retaliation | Landlord may not raise rent, decrease/interfere with services, or bring or threaten an eviction/possession action in response to a tenant complaining to a code-enforcement agency about health/safety violations, complaining in writing to the landlord about IC 32-31-5-6 or 32-31-8-5 violations, suing under IC 32-31-6 or 32-31-8, joining a tenant organization, or testifying against the landlord. No statutory presumption period. Exceptions include non-renewal at end of term, market-rate rent increases, and evictions for unpaid rent or health/safety lease violations. Chapter added by P.L.168-2020; waiver is void (P.L.215-2021). Local units may not regulate retaliatory acts (IC 32-31-8.5-6). |
Related questions
Indiana vs. neighboring states
| State | Lockouts and illegal eviction | Landlord shutting off utilities | Landlord retaliation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana | According to the Indiana courts' Small Claims Manual, a landlord may not lock a tenant out unless the tenant has abandoned the home, and an illegal lockout can lead to punitive damages. A tenant locked out by changed locks can file a small claims case for emergency possessory relief. A landlord also may not hold a tenant's belongings as security for unpaid rent unless a court allows it, and removing a tenant with the sheriff requires a court order. Indiana Office of Court Services, Small Claims Manual (2026, updated 12/23/2025), pp. 31-32, 36-38 | According to the Indiana courts' Small Claims Manual, a landlord generally may shut off utilities only when the tenant has abandoned the home and the utilities are in the landlord's name. An illegal utility shutoff can lead to a judgment for punitive damages against the landlord. A tenant whose landlord interrupts or shuts off utilities or other essential services can file a small claims case for emergency possessory relief. Indiana Office of Court Services, Small Claims Manual (2026, updated 12/23/2025), pp. 36, 38 | Landlord may not raise rent, decrease/interfere with services, or bring or threaten an eviction/possession action in response to a tenant complaining to a code-enforcement agency about health/safety violations, complaining in writing to the landlord about IC 32-31-5-6 or 32-31-8-5 violations, suing under IC 32-31-6 or 32-31-8, joining a tenant organization, or testifying against the landlord. No statutory presumption period. Exceptions include non-renewal at end of term, market-rate rent increases, and evictions for unpaid rent or health/safety lease violations. IC 32-31-8.5-2 through 32-31-8.5-6 |
| Illinois | Illinois landlords must file a lawsuit to evict. The Illinois Attorney General states that a landlord may not evict a tenant by locking the tenant out, changing the locks, or removing the tenant's belongings, and that only a sheriff can physically remove a tenant after a court order. Illinois Attorney General, Landlord and Tenant Rights and Laws (fact sheet, 01/24), pp. 2-3 | According to the Illinois Attorney General, a landlord must go to court to evict a tenant and cannot make a tenant move by turning off the utilities. Under the Illinois Rental Property Utility Service Act, if the landlord fails to pay a utility bill the landlord is legally responsible for, the tenant may pay the bill and deduct the payment from the rent. Illinois Attorney General, Landlord and Tenant Rights and Laws (fact sheet, 01/24), p. 2 | Landlord may not knowingly terminate, raise rent, decrease services, sue or threaten to sue for possession, or refuse to renew because the tenant in good faith complained of code violations to government or a community organization, requested repairs, joined/organized a tenants' union, testified about conditions, or exercised any legal right. Rebuttable presumption of retaliation if protected activity occurred within one year before the landlord's act. Remedies: defense to eviction, termination, recovery of possession, and the greater of 2 months' rent or 2 times damages, plus attorney's fees. 765 ILCS 721/5-20 (Landlord Retaliation Act) |
| Kentucky | In areas that have adopted Kentucky's landlord-tenant act, a landlord who unlawfully removes or shuts out a tenant (for example by changing the locks) faces the tenant's choice to recover possession or end the lease, plus up to three months' periodic rent and a reasonable attorney's fee; if the lease ends, all prepaid rent must be returned (KRS 383.655). KRS 383.655 | In areas that have adopted Kentucky's landlord-tenant act, if a landlord willfully cuts off or interrupts heat, running water, hot water, electricity, gas or another essential service, the tenant may get back possession or end the lease, and in either case recover up to three months' rent plus reasonable attorney's fees; if the lease ends, the landlord must return all prepaid rent (KRS 383.655). Separately, if the landlord willfully fails to supply those services, after written notice the tenant may buy the service and deduct the cost from rent, recover damages for the reduced rental value, or move to substitute housing and pay no rent for that time (KRS 383.640). KRS 383.655; KRS 383.640 | URLTA areas: landlord may not raise rent, decrease services, or bring or threaten eviction after a tenant complains to a code agency, complains to the landlord about KRS 383.595 maintenance duties, or joins/organizes a tenants' union. A complaint within one year before the act creates a presumption of retaliation. Remedies: those in KRS 383.655 (up to 3 months' rent plus attorney fees) and a defense to eviction. Non-URLTA areas: no statute. KRS 383.705 |
| Michigan | A landlord may not interfere with a tenant's possession by force or threat of force; removing, keeping or destroying the tenant's property; changing locks without promptly giving the tenant keys; boarding up the unit; removing doors, windows or locks; or creating a nuisance. The tenant can recover actual damages or $200, whichever is greater, for each occurrence, plus possession; a person forcibly put out or kept out can recover three times actual damages or $200, whichever is greater. It is not unlawful if the owner acts under a court order, enters temporarily for lawful repairs or inspection, or believes in good faith after diligent inquiry that the tenant has abandoned the unit and rent is unpaid. MCL 600.2918(1)-(3) | An owner (including a landlord or its agent) who unlawfully interferes with a tenant's possession by cutting off essential services, in a way that amounts to a constructive eviction, is liable for the tenant's actual damages or $200, whichever is greater, for each occurrence, and the tenant can recover possession if it was lost. The tenant may sue for possession or seek an injunction in circuit court; the protections cannot be waived. A possession claim must be filed within 90 days, and a damages claim within one year. MCL 600.2918(2)(f), (6)-(8) | Defense to eviction: no judgment for possession if termination was intended primarily as a penalty for the tenant's attempt to enforce lease or legal rights, complaint to a government authority about a health/safety code violation, or other lawful tenancy-related act (including joining a tenant organization), or if the landlord added lease obligations as such a penalty. Presumption of retaliation if the tenant's protected action through a court or government agency occurred within 90 days before the eviction case began and was not dismissed/denied. MCL 600.5720(1)(a)-(c),(e); MCL 600.5720(2) |
| Ohio | A residential landlord may not lock a tenant out or take any other step to exclude the tenant (self-help eviction) except through the court process in Chapters 1923, 5303 and 5321; this applies even after the tenant's right to possession has ended. The landlord also may not seize a tenant's furniture or belongings to collect rent without a court order. A landlord who violates these rules is liable for all damages caused plus reasonable attorney's fees. Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.15 | A residential landlord may not cut off utilities or services to force a tenant out, even a tenant whose right to stay has ended; the landlord must use the court eviction process. A landlord who does so is liable in a civil lawsuit for all damages caused to the tenant plus reasonable attorney's fees. Separately, the landlord must supply running water, reasonable hot water and reasonable heat (with limited exceptions). Ohio Rev. Code §§ 5321.15(A), (C); 5321.04(A)(6) | Landlord may not raise rent, reduce services, or bring/threaten an eviction action because the tenant complained to a government agency about a code violation materially affecting health and safety, complained to the landlord about a § 5321.04 violation, or joined with other tenants to negotiate with the landlord. Tenant may use retaliation as a defense, recover possession or terminate, and recover actual damages and attorney's fees. Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.02 |
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Compare lockouts, utility shutoffs & retaliation in all 50 states and DC →
Indiana Lockouts, Utility Shutoffs & Retaliation FAQ
Can a landlord change the locks without a court order in Indiana?
According to the Indiana courts' Small Claims Manual, a landlord may not lock a tenant out unless the tenant has abandoned the home, and an illegal lockout can lead to punitive damages. A tenant locked out by changed locks can file a small claims case for emergency possessory relief. A landlord also may not hold a tenant's belongings as security for unpaid rent unless a court allows it, and removing a tenant with the sheriff requires a court order. (Indiana Office of Court Services, Small Claims Manual (2026, updated 12/23/2025), pp. 31-32, 36-38)
Can a landlord shut off utilities in Indiana?
According to the Indiana courts' Small Claims Manual, a landlord generally may shut off utilities only when the tenant has abandoned the home and the utilities are in the landlord's name. An illegal utility shutoff can lead to a judgment for punitive damages against the landlord. A tenant whose landlord interrupts or shuts off utilities or other essential services can file a small claims case for emergency possessory relief. (Indiana Office of Court Services, Small Claims Manual (2026, updated 12/23/2025), pp. 36, 38)
Can a landlord retaliate against a tenant for complaining in Indiana?
Landlord may not raise rent, decrease/interfere with services, or bring or threaten an eviction/possession action in response to a tenant complaining to a code-enforcement agency about health/safety violations, complaining in writing to the landlord about IC 32-31-5-6 or 32-31-8-5 violations, suing under IC 32-31-6 or 32-31-8, joining a tenant organization, or testifying against the landlord. No statutory presumption period. Exceptions include non-renewal at end of term, market-rate rent increases, and evictions for unpaid rent or health/safety lease violations. (IC 32-31-8.5-2 through 32-31-8.5-6)
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.