Senate Bill 340 Bill Could Change Regulatory Power on Rental Properties

Senate Bill 340 originally addressed the issue of condemned property.

An added amendment would require the state legislature; approve any local ordinances a city passes in regards to regulating rental properties.

Legislature is being called land-lord friendly.

The bill would change the way local entities regulate rental properties.

I talked with local officials who say if this bill is passed..

It would be an over-reach by the state.

Senate bill 340 originally addressed the issue of condemned property.

An added amendment would require the state legislature..

Approve any local ordinances a city passes in regards to regulating rental properties.

"it is really not our job to pass local ordinances.

We are suppose to be things at the state level that affect the state as a whole we don't write special legislation that is for 1 city only or one town or one location."- chris campbell the bill would also force tenants who lose a claim against a landlord be required to pay court and legal l fees for both sides.

But if a tenant wins..

They would only be awarded 1 months rent "the land lords are awarded attorneys fees under this bill but the tenants aren't, the renters wouldn't be able to get their attorneys fees which means you are going to have to try and find an attorney that's willing represent you when you have to split that 1 months rent."- duran keller duran keller has represented tenants seeking damages in the past..

He says if this bill becomes law..

It could make renters more intimidated to seek justices against landlords providing poor living conditions.

"this significantly makes it more difficult for a tenant who has a valid cause of action to be able to get assistance and of course they could represent themselves but good luck because there are so many pitfalls there."-duran keller localawmakers say this would add a burden on to the state legislature as well.

"this would be overly burdensome and not good for tenants trying to address issues from the properties they are trying to rent."- campbell.

The house passed the amended bill.

It was then sent back to the original author in the senate, who is pushing it to a conference committee.

Once the bill is out of committee it will go back to both the house and senate for another vote.

We reached out to several landlords in the area for comment on the bill but didn't receive a response.

West lafayette schools will