housing Rights & responsibilities.

Landlords and tenants have rights and responsibilities under Ohio law. Rentful614 is here to connect you to information and resources that can help prevent an eviction, navigate a housing dispute, and protect safe housing. This page does not contain legal advice, you should always talk to an attorney for customized guidance.

Pay to Stay

Pay to Stay laws allow tenants to avoid or stop an eviction by paying all past-due rent and fees to the landlord before an eviction is completed. Unless also combined with a Third Party Pay law or specifically allowed, this may not require landlords to accept payments from anyone other than the tenant. In Central Ohio, residents of Columbus, Gahanna, Reynoldsburg, and Worthington have Pay to Stay rights. Contact an attorney to learn more.

Third Party Pay

Renters may turn to a church, nonprofit, or government agency for help paying rent. Some landlords refuse to accept these payments from third parties. Third-Party Pay laws require landlords to accept payments from others acting on the tenant’s behalf. Unless combined with a Pay to Stay law, a tenant cannot be behind on rent. In Central Ohio, Columbus, Gahanna, Reynoldsburg, and Worthington each have Third Party Pay laws. Contact an attorney to learn more.

source of income

Source of income laws generally prohibit landlords from denying rental applications or refusing rental payments because of how a renter earns lawful income. The types of income that are protected vary by city but usually include earned wages, 1099 income, small business income, housing choice vouchers, spousal support, child support, disability income, and public assistance. If landlords require tenants to have 3x income-to-rent (or other similar threshold or ratio), then the amount of a voucher usually must be subtracted from the rental amount before that calculation is performed.

In Central Ohio, residents of Bexley, Columbus, Gahanna, Grandview, Pickerington, Reynoldsburg, Upper Arlington, Whitehall, Westerville, and Worthington are protected by a Source of Income Law. Columbus residents can file a complaint by contacting the Legal Aid Society of Columbus or by calling Columbus’ Tenant Assistance Hotline at 614.7241532. Residents of other cities may contact their city administration offices for guidance on how to file a complaint.

Columbus-Specific Laws

Renter’s Choice is a law in the City of Columbus that allows tenants to pay their security deposit in three- or six-monthly installments. This protects residents regardless of income.

Rental Receipt is a law in the City of Columbus that requires property owners to provide tenants with a written receipt for all security deposit and rental payments. This also protects residents regardless of income.

Relocation Assistance rights may require a property owner to pay a tenant’s reasonable relocation costs if an Emergency Vacate Order is issued because the owner did not meet their legal requirements to keep the property safe and habitable.

Learn about more of Columbus’ latest housing protections by visiting the Housing For All website. Or report a violation to Columbus’ Tenant Protection Hotline at 614.724.1532.

Fair housing & anti-Retaliation

In 1965, state legislation was enacted to prohibit discrimination in rental and other housing activities in Ohio.  All protected classes have the right to live wherever they can afford to buy a home or rent an apartment. The law states that it is unlawful to discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, ancestry, religion, disability, military status, or familial status. In many communities, including Columbus, it is also illegal to discriminate on the basis of age, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression.

If you suspect that there was housing discrimination, report it! Charges generally must be filed within one year from the date of harm. You can get help from the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, Columbus Legal Aid, or the Columbus Urban League. It is also illegal for housing providers to retaliate against a tenant for filing a complaint.

safe and habitable housing

In Ohio, landlords are required to make all repairs and do whatever is reasonably necessary to put and keep a rental home in a fit and habitable condition. The best way to report a violation property is to contact the code enforcement division of your local government; in Columbus, you can make a complaint using the 3-1-1 Center. These tools can also help those who need safe and decent housing:

Legal helpers

Nonprofit legal service providers can offer free or reduced-cost legal representation or advice from well-qualified attorneys to help residents facing housing litigation. A list of legal providers is available on our Find Help page, and students at the Ohio State University can also access off-campus housing legal advice.

Community Mediation Services can assist with tenant/landlord and other types of housing disputes. Their goal is to help people maintain housing for the long term and prevent homelessness.

The Self-Help Center provided by Franklin County Municipal Court cannot offer legal advice but can assist in finding helpful resources and providing legal information. Legal information includes court forms and the tools to help complete them as well as answers to general questions about court procedures.

Columbus Legal Aid’s brochure list guides tenants to represent themselves and solve their housing challenges. And Ohio Legal Help can guide your response to different housing barriers.

Record clearing

Eviction Record Removal. In some cases, a tenant can apply to have an eviction filing removed from public view by the local municipal court. The Self-Help Center can help tenants navigate this process. To qualify, the tenant must complete a form stating that allowing public access to the case is outweighed by a higher interest, like that the renter moved before the eviction was granted, they were a minor during the case, or there is a mistaken identity.

Opportunity Port: Criminal Record Sealing. Opportunity Port is a criminal record sealing initiative funded by The Ohio State University Alliance for the American Dream, Columbus City Council, and the Supreme Court of Ohio. This initiative aims to expand employment and housing opportunities for justice-involved persons.

Opportunity Port gets you started in less than 5 minutes with a guided survey. Once the survey is complete, Opportunity Port’s legal partners help eligible applicants complete a formal criminal record sealing application.