Ohio Landlord Tenant Laws
To help you familiarize yourself with Ohio landlord tenant laws, we have compiled a list of the most common questions regarding these laws, as well as the answers to them and where you can look for more information.
Can a Landlord Enter Property without Permission in Ohio?
Except in emergency situations, landlords must provide notice to tenants at least 24 hours before entering the property. Notice and the tenant’s permission are required, and the hour of the visit must be reasonable.
Accepted reasons for landlord visits include to inspect the property, to make repairs or improvements, to show the apartment to contractors or workers, and to show the apartment to potential tenants or buyers.
While the legal requirement, according to Ohio landlord tenant law, is 24 hours, most landlords in the state provide 48 hours of notice.
How Long Does a Landlord Have to Fix Something in Ohio?
Ohio landlord tenant law gives landlords 30 days to make repairs following receiving notice of it. There are exceptions for situations with severe repairs that require sooner action.
Does a Landlord Have to Give You 30 Days’ Notice to Leave a Property in Ohio?
Landlords do not have to provide 30 days’ notice for tenants to leave a property depending on the cause. Only three days are required for evictions due to drug use, unpaid rent, or letting a sex offender stay on the property.
Renters’ rights of Ohio do require landlords to provide a full 30 days of notice in the case of evictions due to breaking the terms of the lease. In that case, tenants must have the option to resolve their lease-breaking and be allowed to stay.
In the case of month-to-month rental agreements, landlords need to tell the tenants they will terminate the agreement at least 30 days in advance. This reduces to seven days in the case of a week-to-week tenancy.
Further Reading: Find more details in the Ohio Revised Code: Chapter 5321: Landlords and Tenants, O.R.C. § 5321.17.
What Is the Eviction Process in Ohio?
Ohio rental laws allow landlords to evict tenants for breaching the lease, intentionally damaging the apartment, unpaid rent, using drugs on the property, or the tenant allowing a registered sex offender in the apartment when it is within 1,000 feet of a school.
Landlords must provide written notice to the tenant before visiting the court to file for eviction. In the case of evictions for unpaid rent, letting registered sex offenders stay, or drug activity, they only need to provide the tenant three days of notice to move out. In the case of lease breaches, they must provide 30 days’ notice, during which time the tenant must be allowed to resolve the issue to avoid eviction.
If tenants do not resolve the problem in those 30 days, the landlord can go to court to file an eviction. The landlord will get a “writ of execution” that he can give to a sheriff, who will then remove the tenant. This removal must occur within 10 days of the sheriff receiving the document.
Further Reading: Find more details in the Ohio Revised Code: Chapter 5321: Landlords and Tenants, O.R.C. § 1923.04.
What Are Landlords’ Responsibilities with Security Deposits in Ohio?
The following sections answer frequently asked questions about security deposits in Ohio.
What is the Length of Holding onto a Security Deposit When a Tenant Moves Out?
After a tenant moves out, Ohio rental laws require landlords to return the security deposit within 30 days.
Further Reading: Find more details in the Ohio Revised Code: Chapter 5321: Landlords and Tenants, O.R.C. § 5321.16.
How Much Can a Landlord Collect for a Security Deposit?
There is no official limit as to how much a landlord can collect for a security deposit in Ohio. On average, however, landlords collect about a month’s rent.
What Can Be Taken Out of a Security Deposit When a Tenant Moves Out?
Landlords can take funds out of the security deposit for damage past normal wear and tear, unpaid rent, or if the tenant breaks the lease.
Are Receipts Required with a Returned Security Deposit If Repairs or Other Items Are Taken Out of the Deposit?
There is no requirement for a receipt with the returned security deposit. However, landlords must provide an itemized list that includes everything that was deducted from the deposit, in accordance with renters’ rights Ohio.
Further Reading: Find more details in the Ohio Revised Code: Chapter 5321: Landlords and Tenants, O.R.C. § 5321.16.
Any Other Rules Ohio Has on Security Deposits?
One interesting note is that for security deposits larger than $50 or a month’s rent, whichever of the two is greater, the deposit must go in an account that bears interest. It has to earn 5 percent annual interest, computed yearly. This deposit can be in the same account as other assets that the landlord owns.
Further Reading: Find more details in the Ohio Revised Code: Chapter 5321: Landlords and Tenants, O.R.C. § 5321.16.
Is Ohio Landlord-Friendly?
Yes, Ohio is landlord-friendly, thanks to Ohio rental laws allowing evictions with just three days’ notice in certain situations.
Resources for Ohio Landlord Tenant Laws:
Read more of our state landlord tenant law guides here.
Note: This content is not intended to substitute, replace, or be construed as professional legal advice. It is for referential purposes only and not meant to replace the advice of your legal counsel, legal representation, and or lawyer. Please consult your professional legal representation or lawyer to be sure your lease is compliant with any state and/or federal laws.