Cal. Civ. Code § 32-31-5-6
Landlord prohibited from interfering with access, possession, or essential services; unit entry by landlord
Operative Text
Sec. 6. (a) This section does not apply if the dwelling unit has been abandoned. (b) For purposes of this section, a dwelling unit is considered abandoned if: (1) the tenants have failed to: (A) pay; or (B) offer to pay; rent due under the rental agreement; and (2) the circumstances are such that a reasonable person would conclude that the tenants have surrendered possession of the dwelling unit. An oral or written rental agreement may not define abandonment differently than is provided by this subsection. (c) Except as authorized by judicial order, a landlord may not deny or interfere with a tenant's access to or possession of the tenant's dwelling unit by commission of any act, including the following: (1) Changing the locks or adding a device to exclude the tenant from the dwelling unit. (2) Removing the doors, windows, fixtures, or appliances from the dwelling unit. (3) Interrupting, reducing, shutting off, or causing termination of any of the following to a tenant: (A) Electricity. (B) Gas. (C) Water. (D) Other essential services. However, the landlord may interrupt, shut off, or terminate service as the result of an emergency, good faith repairs, or necessary construction. This subdivision does not require a landlord to pay for services described in this subdivision if the landlord has not agreed, by an oral or written rental agreement, to do so. (d) A tenant may not interrupt, reduce, shut off, or cause termination of: (1) electricity; (2) gas; (3) water; or (4) other essential services; to the dwelling unit if the interruption, reduction, shutting off, or termination of the service will result in serious damage to the rental unit. (e) A tenant may not unreasonably withhold consent to the tenant's landlord to enter the tenant's dwelling unit in order to: (1) inspect the dwelling unit; (2) make necessary or agreed to: (A) repairs; (B) decorations; (C) alterations; or (D) improvements; (3) supply necessary or agreed to services; or (4) exhibit the dwelling unit to prospective or actual: (A) purchasers; (B) mortgagees; (C) tenants; (D) workers; or (E) contractors. (f) A landlord may enter the dwelling unit: (1) without notice to the tenant in the case of an emergency that threatens the safety of the occupants or the landlord's property; and (2) without the consent of the tenant: (A) under a court order; or (B) if the tenant has abandoned or surrendered the dwelling unit. (g) A landlord: (1) shall not abuse the right of entry or use a right of entry to harass a tenant; (2) shall give a tenant reasonable written or oral notice of the landlord's intent to enter the dwelling unit; and (3) may enter a tenant's dwelling unit only at reasonable times.
Indiana Code § 32-31-5-6 establishes a mutual framework governing access to and possession of a rental dwelling. Landlords are prohibited from locking out tenants, removing fixtures, or cutting off essential utilities such as electricity, gas, or water without a court order — though brief interruptions for genuine emergencies, repairs, or construction are permitted. Tenants, in turn, may not unreasonably refuse a landlord's entry for inspections, repairs, or showings, and may not shut off essential services if doing so would cause serious damage to the unit. The provision also sets out when a unit is legally considered abandoned, and that definition cannot be altered by any rental agreement.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Ind. Code § 32-31-5-6, compliant property owners and managers refrain from any self-help measures — such as changing locks, removing doors or appliances, or cutting utilities — to remove or pressure a tenant outside of a court order. When entry is needed for inspections, repairs, or showings, operators generally provide reasonable written or oral advance notice and schedule visits at reasonable times, reserving unannounced entry for genuine emergencies that threaten occupant safety or property. Landlords who believe a unit has been abandoned should be aware that § 32-31-5-6 sets a specific legal definition of abandonment — unpaid rent combined with circumstances a reasonable person would read as surrender — and that definition cannot be modified by lease language.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Ind. Code § 32-31-5-6 protects tenants from being locked out, having fixtures removed, or having essential utilities cut off by a landlord acting without a court order. If a landlord takes any of these prohibited actions, a tenant may have grounds to raise the violation as a defense in court proceedings or to pursue a civil claim; tenant-rights organizations in Indiana can help identify available options. The same provision also notes that tenants must not unreasonably refuse a landlord's properly noticed entry for legitimate purposes, and must not shut off utilities in a way that would cause serious damage to the rental unit.
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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