Tenants rights when being evicted

By Alicia Finch, Editor-in-Chief

March 5, 2015

Being evicted from a rental property can be a stressful process. It is important for a renter to get a written agreement signed by both parties, and to know what type of lease—whether house or apartment—is being signed. Arne Englehart owns five properties near UA’s campus and has rented to UA...

Off-campus housing fair set for Thursday

By Parker Perry, Sports Editor

March 4, 2014

Choosing where to live next school year is a huge decision. In deciding whether to move off campus or stay in a dorm, or to look for a different place to live rather than renew a current apartment lease, each student must pick carefully. One of the best places to start gathering informatio...

The law concerning security deposits

March 4, 2014

Reprinted with the permission of the Ohio State Legal Services Association. Q. What is a security deposit? A. A security deposit is a payment required by a landlord to ensure that a tenant pays rent on time and keeps the rental unit in good condition. If the tenant damages the property or leaves ow...

When can you leave the lease early?

March 4, 2014

Prepared by Columbus attorney Eric E. Willison of the Law Office of Eric E. Willison and reprinted with the permission of the Ohio State Bar Association Q. My landlord will not fix things around the apartment. Can I use this as an excuse to get out of the lease agreement early? A. It depends upon how serious ...

Lease lingo

March 4, 2014

Some terms commonly found in leases: Application fee: The fee charged to process your application. Some properties that cater to UA students will waive this fee as part of their recruiting strategy. Activity fee: The fee charged to cover the programs and services within a housing community. ...

Landlord can’t shut off utilities

March 4, 2014

Reprinted with the permission of the Ohio State Legal Services Association Q. What is a utility shutoff?
 A. A utility shut-off is like a lockout in the context of landlord-tenant law. This is not about the utility company turning off service (gas, electric, water, etc.) because the tenant failed...

What happens if my landlord locks me out?

March 4, 2014

Reprinted with the permission of the Ohio State Legal Services Association Q. What is a lockout? A. If a landlord has an unresolved problem with a tenant, the landlord may try to change the locks or shut off utilities in order to force the tenant to solve the problem.  A lockout is when a land...

Landlord-tenant rights and obligations

March 4, 2014

Reprinted with the permission of the Ohio State Legal Services Association Q. What must my lease include? A. There are no minimum content requirements under Ohio law. Ohio law is actually silent regarding what must be in the lease. However, there are several statutes that have limits or exclu...

Protect valuables with renter’s insurance

March 4, 2014

Prepared by Mary Jo Hudson, former director of the Ohio Department of Insurance, and updated by William J. Reynolds, an attorney in private practice in Cincinnati. Reprinted with the permission of the Ohio State Bar Association. Most homeowners carry a mortgage and must buy homeowner’s insuranc...

Lease checklist

March 4, 2014

What to look for in your lease: ✓ Listing of location and whether it is a room or an entire property: Make sure the lease lists whether you are renting a room and the common area, or the entire apartment. ✓ Landlord name and address information: This is important so you know how to contact...

Resources for renters

March 4, 2014

Off-Campus Student Services A one-stop resource for students who live off campus or plan to live off campus, their parents, and landlords. Helps students locate housing, find roommates and get answers to questions related to off-campus living. Student Union Room 152 330-972-5500 uakron.edu/offc...

Know your rights with respect to the eviction process

March 4, 2014

Reprinted with the permission of the Ohio State Legal Services Association Q. How does the eviction process start? A. All evictions in Ohio must begin with a “Notice to Leave Premises,” (commonly referred to as a three-day notice). Note that some notices may contain extra language if you liv...

What students should know about leasing

March 4, 2014

Prepared by attorney Doug Holthus of Poling | Petrello’s Columbus office and reprinted with the permission of the Ohio State Bar Association. Q. I attend college away from home and am getting ready to sign an apartment lease. What should I know? A. Ohio law outlines the basic rights and resp...