From the office of Eric Koch, State Senator
Earlier this year, there were reports of an Indiana landlord collecting and keeping utility payments from residents instead of passing them to the complex's utility company. The landlord accrued over $1 million in unpaid bills and water was shut off to hundreds of tenants on the property.
Senate Enrolled Act 114, which I authored, would allow utility companies to ask courts to appoint receivers over certain landlords who have failed to pay their utility bills after collecting the payment from tenants.
There is no reason for families to be without water or electricity, or even removed from their home, when they make timely utility payments and their property owner is the irresponsible actor. Tenants should be able to trust their landlord to always handle their money appropriately, and SEA 114 provides a remedy for enforcement that doesn't exist today.
SEA 114 received unanimous support from the General Assembly throughout the legislative process, and is backed by multiple organizations including Citizens Energy Group, the Indiana Apartment Association, AARP Indiana, Citizens Action Coalition and many others.
The governor has until March 20 to take action on the bill.
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