Cal. Civ. Code § 22-9.5-6-16
Effect of order on prior transactions
Operative Text
Sec. 16. A commission order under section 15 of this chapter does not affect a contract, a sale, an encumbrance, or a lease that: (1) was consummated before the commission issued the order; and (2) involved a bona fide purchaser, an encumbrancer, or a tenant who did not have actual notice of the finding of reasonable cause filed under this article.
Under Ind. Code § 22-9.5-6-16, a civil rights commission order issued after a fair housing investigation cannot unwind or invalidate certain prior real estate transactions. Specifically, contracts, sales, encumbrances, and leases that were completed before the order was issued remain legally intact if the buyer, lender, or tenant involved had no actual notice of the reasonable-cause finding that preceded the order. The provision essentially creates a protected status for good-faith parties who entered transactions without knowledge of the pending fair housing proceeding.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Ind. Code § 22-9.5-6-16 means that a commission enforcement order generally cannot reach back to void a lease or sale that was already completed before the order was issued, provided the other party had no actual notice of the reasonable-cause finding. Property owners and managers should be aware, however, that this protection does not apply to transactions entered into after a reasonable-cause finding becomes known. Operators who receive notice of a fair housing proceeding should understand that subsequent transactions may not enjoy the same insulation from commission orders.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Ind. Code § 22-9.5-6-16, tenants who signed a lease before a commission order was issued—and who had no actual notice of the underlying reasonable-cause finding—generally retain the rights established by that lease, as the order cannot retroactively disturb it. If a tenant believes a fair housing proceeding may affect their housing situation, tenant-rights organizations and legal aid offices can help clarify how this provision interacts with any ongoing commission action. Tenants who did have actual notice of a reasonable-cause finding before entering a lease may not be covered by this protection and may wish to seek guidance from a qualified housing advocate.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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