Cedar Glen Apartments' settlement leads to warning for landlords

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita is using the recent issues at the Cedar Glen Apartments in South Bend, to put problem landlords on notice.

The AG, along with Portage Township Trustee Jason Critchlow, visited Cedar Glen today, following last months' settlement with the complex.

Coming off persistent maintenance issues and code violations, Cedar Glen owners agreed to pay restitution to affected residents, the township, and permit a tenant's association in addition to a new compliance agreement with the Attorney General's Office.

"That's the real problem, and I am appreciative of these owners who took the issue seriously and voluntarily put in hundreds of 1000s of dollars in repairs. And you know, I wish every landlord did that, frankly, but most don't, and so mostly in our unto court agreements, or we go to trial or whatever means necessary to get them to comply," stated Rokita.

Portage Township Trustee Jason Critchlow stated the situation should be a warning for those taking advantage of renters and their rights and is calling on municipalities to strengthen protections.

"They should be on notice now that there is accountability, there can be repercussions, the township is going to be implementing its own poverty inspection program. We do want to discuss with the City of South Bend and the City of Mishawaka things that we think that they should do to start putting into place, to start holding landlords accountable," stated Critchlow.

Rokita also called for the Indiana legislature to update state statutes to empower the Attorney General to pursue action against non-profits, which some landlords are incorporated as.

Rokita's Democratic opponent in the November election, Destiny Wells, has called for new state laws to allow rents to be withheld from problem landlords.