Prohibited
Practices/Illegal Lease Clauses
Ohio Landlord Tenant Law For The Lay Person
Retaliation Prohibited! (Ohio)
Form Letters From The Cleveland Tenant's Association
Problems with Rental Agreements: notice to terminate or correct.
See Repairs
See Discrimination/Fair
Housing
See Evictions
See Where
To Get Legal Or Government Assistance
Government, nonprofit and commercial groups to help you when you're in trouble.
Discrimination/Fair
Housing
Ohio Landlord Tenant Law For The Lay Person
Civil Rights-Frequently Asked Questions (Ohio)
Discrimination questions regarding work, education, credit, public
accommodation, filing charges, retaliation and more.
Cleveland Tenant's Organization (Ohio)
Has some information on
Fair Housing Practices.
Form Letters From The Cleveland Tenant's Association
Retaliation for complaints or tenant organizing.
Problems with Rental Agreements: notice to terminate or correct.
Where To Get Legal Or Government
Assistance
(Consumer-SOS)
Government, nonprofit and commercial groups to help you when you're in trouble.
http://tenant.net/otherareas/uscode/fair-hse.html
Learn what housing is covered, the types of discrimination that is
prohibited and where to go for help.
Housing Exempt
From The Fair Housing Act
(Consumer-SOS)
Some housing can discriminate. Find out which.
Discrimination
In Advertising Related To Housing
(Consumer-SOS)
What Is a Disability
As Defined By The Fair Housing Act
(Consumer-SOS)
Filing A Lawsuit Under The Fair Housing Act (Consumer-SOS)
Requirements For New Buildings (Built After 19991)
Procedures & Penalties For Violations (Consumer-SOS)
www.accessut.state.ut.us/advobook.htm
Guide to finding accessible housing for people with disabilities.
For
More See Prohibited
Practices/Illegal Lease Clauses
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To Top
In addition to the state law below, federal law may protect you
from a landlord's retaliation if the decision was based on your race, color
creed, national origin, marital or family status or age if over 40. For details
see Discrimination/Fair
Housing.
If the landlord is punishing you for exercising your legal rights, you may have
to sue in court. For help, call your landlord tenant hotline, or get media
support through your local TV, newspaper or radio station.
Cleveland Tenant's Organization (Ohio)
See relevant topics below:
Landlord
& Tenant Law (Ohio)
See left hand index for rental agreements, obligations of both sides, security
deposits, withholding rent, repairs, eviction and unlawful retaliation. Suggest
you read document rather than rely on left hand index.
Form Letters From The Cleveland Tenant's Association
Retaliation for complaints or tenant organizing.
State By State Laws Against Landlord Retaliation (Nolo.com)
Not every state protects tenants from retaliation.
How The Various States Treat Landlord Retaliation
See Part 2 for the statutes and pro tenant case law on retaliatory conduct by
landlords against tenants who exercise their rights under housing codes or other
laws governing tenant rights. Each state varies with respect to the types of
conduct landlords are prohibited from doing, the types of tenant activities that
are protected, and the remedies available for a violation of the statute. And
not all states are covered.
Where To Go For More Help
For more help see Lawyers,
Courts & Self Help
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Uninhabitable Premises/Constructive Eviction
Sometimes a landlord will create a nuisance or fail to make needed
repairs. If such actions make the premises unlivable, the law may permit the
tenant to immediately move out and sue for "constructive eviction."
If the tenant wins, damages can be collected for back rent, damage to furniture
and other expenses.
Note a tenant cannot normally sue for constructive eviction unless the problem
caused them to move out before the end of their lease.
Some
states even allow for a partial constructive eviction, such as when the
landlord's negligence makes only part of your apartment unlivable. For
example. Suppose your landlord did not repair the leaky ceiling and as a
result of this you can no longer use your dining room. Then at least as
far as the use of your dining room goes, you have been constructively evicted.
Note: The rules for constructive eviction depend on case law and vary
from state to state.
So be very careful about claiming constructive eviction without first
seeking help from an attorney.
Circumstances Determine When Tenants Can Terminate Lease Agreements (Ohio)
Won't be able to do so if the issue is just minor repairs.
State
Habitability Statutes And Law Reference Guide (50 States)
Scroll down to your state and see what the remedies are for breach of
habitability. If listed, this will show you what you need to prove for
constructive eviction. If the statute is silent, there still may be case
law in your favor. But be careful and talk to a lawyer if you can!
For case law, go to Google Scholar, and
search for "constructive eviction" and your state.
Ohio Landlord Tenant Law For The Lay Person
Cleveland Tenant's Organization (Ohio)
Has some information on:
Form Letters From The Cleveland Tenant's Association
Repair Problems including notice to landlord to make repairs.
Rent Problems including eviction.
Utility Problems including utility shut-off and inadequate heat.
Help Resources
Find Your Legal Aid in Ohio By County or Zip Code
Ohio Free Legal Help (Google Links To Pro Bono Resources)
Ohio AIRS
Statewide Social Services Directory (Call 211 to speak to a live person)
Thousands of links to Help agencies in your county
including help with your mortgage, rent and utility payments..
Connect Me Ohio
This is your first
stop for information about home and community based services. Also has support and
opportunities for older adults, persons with disabilities and caregivers in
Ohio. Whether you're looking at options for independent living, long term care
alternatives, support to stay in your home or ways to stay healthy.
Where
To Get Legal Or Government Assistance
(Consumer-SOS)
Government, nonprofit and commercial groups to help you when you're in trouble.
For More Help, See Repairs
and Lawyers, Courts & Self Help
Back
To Top
Form Letters From The Cleveland Tenant's Association (See Forms Below)
Repair Problems including notice to landlord to make repairs.
Rent Problems including eviction.
Utility Problems including utility shut-off and inadequate heat.
Security Deposit Problems including return of security deposit.
Retaliation for complaints or tenant organizing.
Problems with Rental Agreements: notice to terminate or correct.
Ohio Landlord Tenant Law For The Lay Person
Moving in Inspection pp.6-7. Forms ,
pp.35-39.
Keeping Records p.15. Forms , pp.35-39.
See State Courts &
Court Forms (Consumer-SOS)
See Other Forms (Consumer-SOS)
Where To Go For More Help
The Forms Below Are Generic
(Not State Specific)
FOR TENANTS
Tenant's
Notice To End The Tenancy
Notice
To Landlord To Make Repairs (Lawsmart)
FOR LANDLORDS
Amendment
Of Lease (Lawsmart.com)
Assignment
Of Lease (Lawsmart.com)
Sample
Residential Lease (Lawsmart.com)
Consent
To Assignment Of Lease (Lawsmart.com)
Sample
Tenant Notice Invoking Option To Renew Lease
Landlord
Demand Letter Informing Tenant Of Breach Of Tenancy And What Tenant Must Do To
Make Amends
Landlord Notice To Terminate The Tenancy (Lawsmart)
Lease
Termination Agreement (Lawsmart)
Memorandum
Of Lease (Lawsmart)
Notice
Of Rent Increase (Lawsmart.com)
Residential
Rental Application (Lawsmart.com)
Notice
To Tenant To Make Repairs (Lawsmart.com)
Where To Go For More Help (Consumer-SOS)
Your Legal Rights & Responsibilities As A Mobile Home Owner or Tenant (Ohio)
Lemon Law for Motor Homes Protects Ohio Consumers (Ohio)
Where
To Get Legal Or Government Assistance
(Consumer-SOS)
Government, nonprofit and commercial groups to help you when you're in trouble.
There are no other resources here at this time. Please check back again later.
HUD/Public
Housing
Public vs. Private Housing
Public housing differs from private housing in two important ways. In public housing, a family's rent is based on the family's income and size. In a private house or apartment, rent is set by the landlord. In addition to this, many of the rights and duties of public housing tenants are directed by federal law. In contrast, most rights and duties of private tenants are set by the landlord. In most cases, you actually have more rights in public housing than in private housing.
Search the Low-Rent Apartment Database In Ohio
Housing and Urban Development has a list of subsidized housing.
Form Letters From The Cleveland Tenant's Association
Repair Problems including notice to landlord to make repairs.
Links To Local
HUD Offices Throughout US
HUD
Help
Federal laws and regulations protect you from discrimination, fraud, and
unscrupulous practices in buying and renting a home. Know your rights.
http://tenant.net/Other_Areas/Public/butler.htm
Admission, rents and lease requirements, eviction and grievances procedures and
help numbers.
State
Housing Authorities (All 50 States, DC & US Territories)
State housing agencies may give money and advice directly to low- and moderate-income people to help with rent, utilities,
repairs to remove health and safety hazards, accessibility for the handicapped, and
becoming homeowners. They also may construct, own, and manage public housing, which usually includes providing social services for the residents.
Where To Go For More Help (Consumer-SOS)
Right
To Tenant's Property Left Behind
If you can't find Ohio law on point, your only redress may be to enlist help from the media or go to court.
Tenant/Landlord Rights and Obligations (Ohio)
Real basics on repairs, security deposits, evictions, who owns fixtures and
other landlord/renter responsibilities.
Cleveland Tenant's Organization (Ohio)
Has some information on
Abandonment.
The Landlord's Right To Keep Property The Tenant Left Behind
(Ohio)
Where
To Get Legal Or Government Assistance (Consumer-SOS)
Government, nonprofit and commercial groups to help you when you're in trouble.
See Moving Out
Crime
Prevention
Getting
Your Landlord To Prevent Crime
(General)
"Castle Laws" Change Self-Defense Rights (Ohio
Ohio’s self-defense laws now give homeowners more rights to protect themselves.
Cleveland Tenant's Organization (Ohio)
Has some information on
Drug Activity in
Rental Housing and
Terminating a Rental Agreement.
Ohio Landlord Tenant Law For The Lay Person
Public Housing, Your Legal Rights p.4.
Where To Go For Help pp. 4-5, 33-34.
Contacting Your Neighbors (Consumer-SOS)
Use Internet phone books and reverse lookups to find out who your neighbors are
and contact them. Good to organize a neighborhood watch, or simply have them
turn down the noise.
Where
To Get Legal Or Government Assistance (Consumer-SOS)
Government, nonprofit and commercial groups to help you when you're in trouble.
See Nuisances,
Noise & Neighbors
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Help
Agencies & Mega Sites
Step by step on what to do and where to go for assistance.
Tenant Help Organizations in Ohio
Ohio Landlord Tenant Law For The Lay Person
Where To Go For Help pp. 4-5, 33-34.
Where To File A Complaint (Ohio)
Choose issue in drop box and they'll direct you to the right agency. Pertains to
issues relating to banking, charities, credit cards, incorporations, insurance,
landlord tenant and utilities.
Find Your Legal Aid in Ohio By County or Zip Code
Ohio AIRS
Statewide Social Services Directory (Call 211 to speak to a live person)
Thousands of links to Help agencies in your county.
Connect Me Ohio
This is your first
stop for information about home and community based services, supports and
opportunities for older adults, persons with disabilities and caregivers in
Ohio. Whether you're looking at options for independent living, long term care
alternatives, support to stay in your home or ways to stay healthy.
Ohio Free Legal Help (Google links To Pro Bono Resources)
The Court Says I Won: Now, How Do I Collect? (Ohio)
How To Involve The Media & Consumer Watch
Groups
Form
Letters
(Consumer-SOS)
Find Your
Local Newspaper, Magazine, Radio & TV Stations
Give them a little bad press and you're bargaining power increases tremendously.
Select Ohio, and then click on your county or city for the proper media to
report to. (DC Not Included).
Find The AARP In Ohio
The AARP offers legal advocacy for seniors and may also have state specific
consumer brochures which are available to everyone.
http://www.badlandlords.info/
Has help agency #s for 31 states,
i.e. where to report your landlord and where to get free legal help. Also
has links to each state's landlord/tenant laws.
http://directory.tenantsunion.org
This site has excellent resources, help numbers and links to pro-tenant
publications in almost every state. It's a really good site!!!
http://tenant.net
This online resource for residential tenants has links to the law in 28
states, Australia, Canada and the UK. They
also have articles and tips for the lay person.
http://cses.com/rental/ltlaw.htm#us
Has links to landlord tenant laws
in most of the 50 states and around the world. Some of these links go to self help booklets written
especially for the lay person.
http://www.mrlandlord.com/html/frametop_frametop.html
This site has select laws from each state on security deposits, evictions and
landlord laws, but it's not consumer friendly. Their "landlord Laws"
sections may have stuff on notice to end tenancy and other stuff tenants should
know.
United Way Help Line (For
All 50 States, DC & Puerto Rico)
Choose
Ohio, select your city, and look up help agencies throughout your city and
state.
Their stellar search engine can lead you to any social service topic you can
think of. Just type in the
words "housing rights" or "HUD" or "housing
Authority" or "housing codes", etc.
National
Help Orgs For A Variety Of Consumer Problems
The Elderly, Environment, Families, Fraud, Health & Safety, Insurance The
Handicapped, Medical Problems, Telemarketing and more.
Involving The Media And Consumer Watch Groups
If the
law will not address your wrong,
sometimes you can still win in the court of public opinion. This may require
that you involve the media and consumer watch
groups. REMEMBER, bad press
hurts
business and may
even prompt lawmakers to pass new
legislation
to help others in your situation.
When
talking to the media, make your plight a human interest story.
Explain how your problem affects:
safety, business, the city's image, the homeless, crime, drug use,
widows, orphans, children, the disabled, the elderly, the economy, the
environment, the insane, immigrants, the illiterate, race relations,
tourism, violence, the state and federal budget, health, disease,
safety...etc.
Give the reporter the names and numbers of other victims (first get
their permission) and have these people call in with similar stories. Also provide the reporter/agency with a list of names and
phone numbers so that he can interview the landlord, the management company
and its agents. Make sure the
reporter can write your story without ever leaving his chair.
If
you receive a positive response, send it immediately to each and every other
agency/newspaper. The more
support you have the more likely you will be taken seriously. Watch your cause build momentum as people jump on the bandwagon.
Lastly, write your state senator/house
representative to pass legislation to stop this terrible wrong.
Send a brief cover letter explaining your situation and how it
effects others. Also enclose
favorable responses from the media and other agencies.
Find
Your Local Newspaper, Magazine, Radio & TV Stations
Trouble getting the government to act on your behalf? Give them a little bad press and you're bargaining power increases tremendously.
Select Ohio, and then click on your county or city for the proper media to
report to. (DC Not Included).
Call For Action
American
Association Of Retired Persons
Misc.
Find Your
City's Municipal Codes
Learn how your city code treats, garbage, nuisance and safety hazards. If you
can't find your city, follow their links to other code sites that can help you.
I Rent My Home and Think My Landlord Is In Foreclosure Protect Me? (Ohio)
"Castle Laws" Change Self-Defense Rights (Ohio
Ohio’s self-defense laws now give homeowners more rights to protect themselves.
Ohio Landlord Tenant Law For The Lay Person
Cleveland Tenant's Organization (Ohio)
Has some information on: