Independent Living in Indiana

Indiana is a charming, Midwestern state located off the southern tip of Lake Michigan. Its nickname of “The Hoosier State” is one of the country’s oldest state nicknames, and although there are many theories as to where it came from, there is no definitive answer. What is known is that residents of the state embrace the “Hoosier” title with a strong sense of local pride. Indiana’s central location – just a short distance from Chicago and many other major cities of the Midwest – combined with the all-American appeal of its own cities like Indianapolis and Bloomington and its vast expanses of rural farmland, make Indiana a convenient place to live and a beautiful state to retire in.

Currently, A Place for Mom partners with more than 130 retirement communities in Indiana that offer independent living. The median monthly cost of independent living in Indiana is about $2,300.

Independent senior living communities in Indiana are licensed and regulated like senior apartment communities. These communities are basically the same as regular apartments, aside from a typical age limit of 55 or over. Because this form of senior living is for healthy and active seniors who don’t require care, these communities are not considered a form of assisted living. Therefore they’re not regulated by the Department of Aging or Indiana Department of Health like assisted living facilities.

Because independent living communities are regulated like typical rental complexes in Indiana, they must abide by the following federal rental regulations for landlords and tenants:

• The Federal Fair Housing Act prevents landlords from denying prospective residents because of a disability, nationality, race, family, religion, or sex.
• The Americans with Disabilities Act ensures that landlords accommodate tenants with disabilities by making “reasonable accommodations and modifications” to the property for accessibility. This could include a number of actions, like installing ramps for wheelchair users or allowing the residents to lower the countertops in their units.

Indiana has its own state laws and regulations regarding tenant and landlord relationships. These are important to understand when moving to a rental property. The nonprofit Housing4Hoosiers is a resource for Indiana renters to learn and understand their rights. They have many resources on their website, including:

An outline of your rights as a renter in Indiana

2023 Renting in Indiana: A Handbook for Tenants

These rights are described in advanced detail on their website, but they include the following:

• You have the right to a habitable place to live.
• The landlord is responsible for maintenance (upkeep).
• The landlord must maintain all common areas of the community.
• You have the right to privacy within your unit.
• You have the right to always enter your own home while renting.
• The landlord must make any needed repairs in a reasonable amount of time.
• You have the right to take legal action if landlord duties are not met.
• You have the right to the return of your security deposit upon moving out.

If a landlord fails to maintain the property, it’s important to request they fix the issues in writing multiple times. If the landlord fails to fix the issue after multiple requests by the tenant then the tenant can take legal action against the landlord as being in violation of the lease agreement. Before taking any legal action against a landlord, it’s best to seek counsel from a local housing nonprofit, housing department, or attorney.

Keep in mind that when an independent living community shares a campus with assisted living, that part of the facility will be regulated by the IDOH and will have additional laws to follow. If you would like to learn about the assisted living regulations for Indiana senior care communities, check out the regulations section of our Indiana assisted living page. You can also contact your local Department of Health to learn more about assisted living regulations and violations in your area.

Indiana Department of Health contact information

2 N. Meridian St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204

Phone: 317-233-1325

Toll-Free: 1-800-382-9480

Hours: M-F 8:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.