SOUTH BEND – Today, State Senator David Niezgodski (D–South Bend) announced that he has sent a formal letter to Attorney General Todd Rokita urging his office to review the recent policy enforcement at Countryside Village Mobile Home Park that requires residents to remove window air conditioning units amid dangerously high summer temperatures.

“This policy places lives at risk,” said Niezgodski. “We’re talking about families losing their only source of relief from the extreme heat. This is not just a housing issue; it’s a public health emergency.”

In the letter, Niezgodski asks the Attorney General to investigate whether the enforcement of this policy may violate Indiana landlord-tenant laws or consumer protection standards. While many of the mobile homes are owned by the residents themselves, the management company owns the land and is now enforcing lease restrictions that prohibit window A/C units, potentially displacing long-term residents by making their homes uninhabitable.

The letter also clarifies that this situation is not the result of House Bill 1541 (2021), which was intended to preserve local authority to enforce basic safety standards, but rather stems from language passed in 2020 through Senate Enrolled Act 148, legislation that preempted local governments from enacting additional tenant protections.

“This ban is an alarming misuse of power by the property owners and could potentially violate the landlord obligations laid out in Indiana law,” said Niezgodski. “I’m calling on the Attorney General to investigate whether this crosses a legal or ethical line.”

Residents of Countryside Village continue to seek legal and community support as they face unsafe conditions and the threat of forced compliance. In the meantime, local cooling centers remain open and available to those in need.

A copy of the letter can be found here.