Rent-to-buy contract argued before Indiana Supreme Court

Representing the couple, Indiana Legal Services contended the contract Carter and Lintner signed was a rental agreement and Rainbow violated the state’s landlord-tenant act by not providing a habitable residence.

News Story (Indiana)

Marilyn Odendahl
Indiana Lawyer
March 7, 2019
READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Tags: Lawsuit: Federal, Rent-to-own

Organizations mentioned/involved: Indiana Legal Services (ILS), Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic (IN)


DETAILS

A dispute that could have a far-reaching impact on the sizable rent-to-own housing market in the Hoosier state was presented to the Indiana Supreme Court on Thursday morning with attorneys arguing over the nature of the rent-to-own contract.

The case, Rainbow Realty Group, Inc. and/or Cress Trust v. Katrina Carter and Quentin Lintner, 19S-CC-00038, has zigzagged its way through the state court system. After Center Township Small Claims Court in Marion County granted Rainbow’s petition for possession and damages of the home that had been occupied by Katrina Carter and Quentin Lintner, the Marion Superior Court granted summary judgment to the couple. However, the Indiana Court of Appeals reversed, finding Rainbow was selling, not renting, the property to the couple.