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Prohibited Practices/Illegal Lease Clauses

Ohio Landlord Tenant Law For The Lay Person

  • Public Housing, Your Legal Rights p.4.
  • Fair Housing pp.4-5. (includes Help Agencies)
  • Evictions-Other Types pp.25-27, What To Do If  Facing Evictions pp.27-30.
  • Where To Go For Help pp. 4-5, 33-34.

Retaliation Prohibited! (Ohio)

Form Letters From The Cleveland Tenant's Association

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

  • Public Housing, Your Legal Rights p.4.
  • Fair Housing pp.4-5. (includes Help Agencies)

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

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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Retaliation 

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

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

  • Public Housing, Your Legal Rights p.4.
  • Repairs pp.10, 16-18, Step By Step Getting Repairs Done pp.19-22, Damages Made By Guests p.17.
  • Rent And Rent Increases, Late Rent pp.10-13.
  • Keeping Records p.15.  Forms , pp.35-39.
  • Where To Go For Help pp. 4-5, 33-34.

Cleveland Tenant's Organization (Ohio)
Has some information on:

Form Letters From The Cleveland Tenant's Association



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

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Form Letters (Samples)

Form Letters From The Cleveland Tenant's Association (See Forms Below)

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)


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Mobile Homes

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.

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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

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)

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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)
 For help in your county or city, add the name of such up top in the Google search box.

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

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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
Can't Pay Your Rent, Mortgage or Utilities? (Consumer-SOS)
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)

Search For Unfair, Deceptive or Unconscionable Acts Done by Ohio Businesses, Stores, Landlords, Etc (Attorney General)
Ignore all fields but their subject box, and choose a subject your issue relates to. Then click "SUBMIT" to Search records for similar violations done by that business or by any other business. And if the violation is something that has been previously addressed in an administrative rule or by any Ohio court, you may be able to recover three times the amount of actual damages or $200, whichever is greater. Topics include everything from Aeronautics to False Advertising to Food to Travel! Too Many Hits? Use your back button and narrow your results by also selecting a topic from the CATEGORY box.

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.

Media/Consumer Watch Groups

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  


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For More General Advice, See

www.nolo.com


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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

  • Public Housing, Your Legal Rights p.4.
  • Fair Housing pp.4-5. (includes Help Agencies)
  • Moving in Inspection pp.6-7.  Forms , pp.35-39.
  • Leases-What to Watch Out For. pp.7-9.
  • Security Deposits pp.9, 31-33.   
  • Repairs pp.10, 16-18, Step By Step Getting Repairs Done pp.19-22, Damages Made By Guests p.17.
  • Rent And Rent Increases, Late Rent pp.10-13.
  • Keeping Records p.15.  Forms , pp.35-39.
  • Tenant Moves out Early pp.22-23.
  • Evictions, Notice To Leave When No Written Lease. p. 24.
  • Evictions-Other Types pp.25-27, What To Do If  Facing Evictions pp.27-30.
  • Where To Go For Help pp. 4-5, 33-34.

Cleveland Tenant's Organization (Ohio)
Has some information on:

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