Tenant bill struck down

Legislation geared toward increasing privacy for tenants leasing Indiana properties was struck down in the State House last week. Despite garnering more votes in favor than against, HB 1096 failed to pass with 45 votes. The Indiana state constitution requires at least 51 votes for passage. \nDubbed the "Tenant Privacy Bill" by its author, Rep. Matt Pierce, D-Bloomington, the legislation required landlords to give tenants one day's notice before entering rental units. Property managers could only enter "at reasonable times," and tenants could not deny access once proper notice is received from the property owner. \nThe bill was welcomed by students who feel landlords often enter properties unannounced. Senior Mackenzie Robinson, who leases a five-bedroom house off First Street with several buddies, said her landlord has a tendency to just show up to show the house to prospective leasers -- she's even been surprised in her bathrobe on a few occasions. \nRobinson supported the legislation when it passed the state Judiciary Committee in late January, citing the need for property owners to give tenants "fair warning" before entering units. \n"It's not really our place, so I don't see how we could deny access anyway," Robinson said. "Even though it didn't pass, perhaps just as a courtesy landlords could notify tenants if they will be coming by. As long as they make an honest effort to get ahold of their tenants, I think that would be good enough for most people."\nSenior Paul LeVasseur, a tenant in Omega Manor, hasn't had such problems his current landlord, Omega Properties, but maintains support of the bill, should Pierce reintroduce it in a forthcoming session.\n"It seems to be a very reasonable bill, and as long as there aren't any integrity issues with the landlords there shouldn't be much opposition to it," LeVasseur said. \nOmega Properties manager Rob Friedman told the IDS in January the legislation could create problems for property owners if the day-only clause applied to maintanence visits as well. \n"When there are problems, we tend to get to them very quickly," Friedman said in January. "We want to make sure everyone's well taken care of, and if we can't get in, if there's a water leak or something, it could pose a very large problem."\nRepresentatives of Grant Properties declined to comment Monday, and College Mall Apartments Property Manager Michael Latham did not return calls by press time.