The area around this state does not have a lot of renters. People who rent there have good relationships with their landlords, though, and that is what counts. Since each owner can set their own lease terms, there are a lot of things that can change how the term of a lease plays out.
But each state in the country has its own set of rules that everyone must follow. These rules are a great way for everyone to keep track of all the conditions for lease. Not only does it make the bond between landlord and tenant better, it can also help avoid legal problems.
This article will give you an overview of Ohio’s landlord-tenant law so that everyone interested in a lease can get a better idea of how their lease agreement might be written.
Download the Landlord’s Guide to Landlord-Tenant Rental Laws Whitepaper
The “Landlord’s Guide” series from DoorLoop is the best way to learn about landlord-tenant rules while you are on the go.
What Does a Rental Agreement in Ohio Include?
Overall, a rental agreement needs to spell out the rights and responsibilities of both the landlord and the tenant during the rental time. The landlords may be able to change these terms to suit their needs, but they generally follow these general rules.
A owner can write or speak out loud a lease if they want to. On the other hand, they should always write down the lease because it can be used as proof of everything that was agreed upon by both sides.
The owner or the owner’s agent’s name and address must be in a written lease deal. Here are some of the general terms that are included:
- Description of the unit.
- Information of the parties involved in the lease.
- Security deposit clauses.
- Rent payments.
- Miscellaneous terms.
Is Ohio a Landlord-Friendly State?
Ohio is thought to be a landlord-friendly state because there are not many rules about rent control or required reports. In other words, an owner may have more freedom when setting rent prices and raising them.
What Are Landlords’ Rights and Duties?
Rights
The law in Ohio says that landlords can collect rent when it is due, use the security deposit to cover repairs for damage that goes beyond usual wear and tear, and make sure that all the utilities are in good working order.
Duties
Landlords must make sure that their rental properties meet all state and city building, housing, health, and safety codes that apply to those properties. Instead, if a tenant asks for repairs, Ohio landlords must make them in a fair amount of time.
Landlords must make sure that their rental properties meet all state and city building, housing, health, and safety codes that apply to those properties. Instead, if a tenant asks for repairs, Ohio landlords must make them in a fair amount of time.
To make sure the property is safe and ready to live in, Ohio owners must also keep an eye on the following:
- Make sure there is running water and enough hot water. This does not apply if the tenant can get heat or hot water directly.
- Make sure that the plumbing, electricity, heating, cooling, and other services are in good shape.
- Ensure that the room is always clean and safe.
What Are Tenants’ Rights and Duties?
Rights
People who rent have the right to live in a unit that meets state and neighborhood housing standards. If there are any problems that put the tenant’s health and safety at risk, they can send a notice to the owner that the problems need to be fixed.
The rule in Ohio says that a tenant can get their security deposit back within 30 days of leaving the rental property.
Duties
Even though this list could be changed to fit the landlord’s needs, here is a summary of the general tasks that every tenant must follow:
Make sure that all common places are safe and clean so that they meet local health, safety, and housing codes.
- Provide maintenance to electrical and plumbing fixtures properly.
- Pay rent on time.
- Not disturb other tenants or neighbors.
Ohio Landlord-Tenant Rental Law – General Clauses
Rent Payments
Ohio law does not currently have any rent control laws. This means that an owner can charge any rent amount they see fit. It is important to keep in mind that Ohio may add rent control provisions in the future.
Also, the owner does not have to give a receipt for rent payments, but it is a good idea to do so so you have a record of every transaction.
What happens if the renter leaves the money with the court clerk? The clerk has to tell the owner in writing. You can put this deposit in a different account for rent escrow.
Rent Increase
Ohio landlord-tenant law says that if an owner wants to raise the rent, they do not have to give the tenant written notice.
Late Fees
The law in Ohio does not say anything about fees. If the owner wants to add them to the lease, they can do so without any problems. However, Ohio landlord-tenant rules say that fees for bounced checks can not be more than 10% of the value of the check.
Security Deposits in Ohio
In Ohio, landlord-tenant rules do not say that the landlord has to get a security deposit from the tenant, but most landlords do. A security deposit is mostly used to pay for damage that goes beyond regular wear and tear and tear, as well as reasonable attorney’s fees.
An amount of money can be put down as a security deposit. Most landlords, though, want at least one month’s rent as a protection deposit.
After the renter moves out, the landlord has 30 days to return the security deposit. If the owner does not return the deposit within 30 days, the tenant can go to court to get the money back that was wrongfully taken from them.
And in Ohio, landlords can keep the security fees as long as they show a detailed list of all the damage the tenant did while they were living there.
Does the Landlord Have to Pay Interests?
If the security deposit is more than $50 or one month’s rent, whichever is bigger, the landlord has to put it in an account that earns interest.
Ohio Landlord-Tenant Clauses for Lease Termination
After the rental agreement’s time is over, the tenants can get out of it. They can send the following notice if they want to do this:
- Weekly Leases – Seven days of notice.
- Monthly Leases – 30 days of notice.
A tenant can also terminate the lease early for any of the following reasons:
- Unacceptable living conditions.
- Harassment or domestic violence.
- Active military duty.
- Early termination clauses.
Eviction Clauses
Lender-tenant rules say that a landlord can kick out a tenant for any of the following reasons:
The renter does not pay, so the owner can give them three days to pay or leave.
There is a breach of the lease terms: The owner has three days to give you notice to leave.
It is seen that the renter is doing something illegal: The renter can be kicked out right away.
The landlord has to give the renter a notice that they need to leave the property. The landlord can give the tenant three days to leave if they do not reply to this “Possession of the Premises” notice. In Ohio, landlord-tenant rules say that the landlord can not get back at a tenant.
Housing Discrimination
Both the Ohio Civil Rights Commission and the Fair Housing Act protect renters from landlords who are unfair. A landlord can not treat a tenant differently because of their race, color, gender identity, country, religion, or anything else.
