The Ohio Landlord-Tenant Law applies to most landlord-tenant relationships and governs most rental agreements whether oral or written.
The Landlord's Duties
The landlord must:
- Comply with requirements of any building, housing, health or safety codes which materially affect health and safety.
- Make all repairs and do whatever is reasonably necessary to keep the premises in a fit and habitable condition.
- Keep the common areas of the building safe and sanitary.
- Provide trash and waste receptacles if there are four or more apartments in the building.
- Supply running hot water, a reasonable amount of hot water, and reasonable heat at all times.
- Give tenant reasonable notice of intent to enter into a tenant's apartment and enter only at reasonable times.
- Provide the tenant with the name and address of landlord and agent, if any, in writing at the beginning of tenancy.
- Keep all electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilating, air conditioning fixtures, appliances, and elevators in good safe working condition, when these things are supplied or required to be supplied by the landlord.
- Not harass the tenant by unreasonable or repeated demands to enter without the tenant's permission. The tenant can recover actual damage resulting from the landlord's entering.
The Tenant's Duties
The tenant must:
- Keep the premises safe and sanitary.
- Keep premises free of trash and garbage.
- Use and operate all electrical and plumbing fixtures properly.
- Comply with the requirements imposed on tenants by applicable housing, health, and safety codes.
- Allow the landlord or agent to enter the apartment with reasonable notice for inspection to see what repairs or improvements are needed.
- Not intentionally or negligently destroy, damage, or deface property, or remove any plumbing fixture or appliance from the premises.
- Not act in a manner that will disturb neighbors' peaceful enjoyment of the premises.
Click here for a fact sheet about tenant's rights in private housing from ProSeniors.