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Tenant's Obligations

Landlord/Tenant

A tenant who is a party to a rental agreement shall do all of the following:

(1) Keep that part of the premises that he occupies and uses safe and sanitary;

(2) Dispose of all rubbish, garbage, and other waste in a clean, safe, and sanitary manner;

(3) Keep all plumbing fixtures in the dwelling unit or used by him as clean as their condition permits;

(4) Use and operate all electrical and plumbing fixtures properly;

(5) Comply with the requirements imposed on tenants by all applicable state and local housing, health, and safety codes;

(6) Personally refrain and forbid any other person who is on the premises with his permission from intentionally or negligently destroying, defacing, damaging, or removing any fixture, appliance, or other part of the premises;

(7) Maintain in good working order and condition any range, refrigerator, washer, dryer, dishwasher, or other appliances supplied by the landlord and required to be maintained by the tenant under the terms and conditions of a written rental agreement;

(8) Conduct himself and require other persons on the premises with his consent to conduct themselves in a manner that will not disturb his neighbors' peaceful enjoyment of the premises;

(9) Conduct himself, and require persons in his household and persons on the premises with his consent to conduct themselves in a lawful manner. This includes illegal use of controlled substances.

(B) The tenant shall not unreasonably withhold consent for the landlord to enter into the dwelling unit in order to inspect the premises, make ordinary, necessary, or agreed repairs, decorations, alterations, or improvements, deliver parcels that are too large for the tenant's mail facilities, supply necessary or agreed services, or exhibit the dwelling unit to prospective or actual purchasers, mortgagees, tenants, workmen, or contractors.


Noncompliance by Tenant Terminates Lease Agreement.

Generally If the tenant fails to fulfill any obligationthat materially affects health and safety, the landlord may deliver a written notice of this fact to the tenant specifying the act or omission that constitutes noncompliance with the pertinent obligations and specifying that the rental agreement will terminate upon a date specified in the notice, not less than thirty days after receipt of the notice. If the tenant fails to remedy the condition specified in the notice, the rental agreement shall terminate as provided in the notice.


Notice to Landlord to Remedy Condition

It is important to understand that communication to a Landlord for serious or "material" matters should be made in writing. This is the best way for a tenant and landlord to protect their interest in case of subsequent disagreements. Communications should be dated and signed, and where feasioble receipt acknowleged by the recipient.


(A) If a landlord fails to fulfill any obligation imposed upon him law or any obligation imposed upon him by the rental agreement, if the conditions of the residential premises are such that the tenant reasonably believes that a landlord has failed to fulfill any such obligations, or if a governmental agency has found that the premises are not in compliance with building, housing, health, or safety codes that apply to any condition of the premises that could materially affect the health and safety of an occupant, the tenant may give notice in writing to the landlord, specifying the acts, omissions, or code violations that constitute noncompliance. The notice shall be sent to the person or place where rent is normally paid. As stated previously it may be useful to send the noticve with some sort of receipt acknowlegemet or delivery acknowlegement.

(B) If a landlord receives the notice and after receipt of the notice fails to remedy the condition within a reasonable time considering the severity of the condition and the time necessary to remedy it, or within thirty days, whichever is sooner, and if the tenant is current in rent payments due under the rental agreement, the tenant may do one of the following:

1) Deposit all rent that is due and thereafter becomes due the landlord with the clerk of the municipal or county court having jurisdiction in the territory in which the residential premises are located;

(2) Apply to the court for an order directing the landlord to remedy the condition. As part of the application, the tenant may deposit rent may apply for an order reducing the periodic rent due the landlord until the landlord remedies the condition, and may apply for an order to use the rent deposited to remedy the condition.

Landlord's Remedies for Tenants Failure to Comply

Generally may bring an action for possession of the premises if:

(1) The tenant is in default in the payment of rent;

(2) The violation of the applicable building, housing, health, or safety code that the tenant complained of was primarily caused by any act or lack of reasonable care by the tenant, or by any other person in the tenant's household, or by anyone on the premises with the consent of the tenant;

(3) Compliance with the applicable building, housing, health, or safety code would require alteration, remodeling, or demolition of the premises which would effectively deprive the tenant of the use of the dwelling unit;

Subject to certain exceptions, the landlord may recover any actual damages that result from the violation of the above rules, or failure to abide by the listed tenant obligations together with reasonable attorney's fees.

This remedy is in addition to any right of the landlord to terminate the rental agreement, to maintain an action for the possession of the premises, or to obtain injunctive relief to compel access.


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Law offices Jacob M. Rzepka 5035 Mayfield Rd. Lyndhurst, Ohio 44236 (216)-923-1309
Hours By Appointment - Evening and Weekend Appointment Available
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