Comments on: Chapter 7 http://ohiorentersrights.com Sun, 05 Feb 2012 19:50:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Sandra Townsend http://ohiorentersrights.com/chapters-7-10/chapter-7/comment-page-1/#comment-10702 Sandra Townsend Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:37:58 +0000 http://ohiorentersrights.com/chapters-7-10/chapter-7/#comment-10702 Hello, this makes my second winter living at this apt. and have had to use emergency heat setting instead of just being able to set it normal. It blows out cold air when setting the way it's suppose to be set. This emergency heat setting has caused my electric bill to extremely increase. My apt. is not that large and when I'm not home I turn the thermostat down. I am the only person living in this apt. I have had maintenance out since I moved here on several occasions and some say there is a problem and others say not. I have been told that all other tenants living here doesn't have to keep there thermostat set on emergency. A few maintenance men have told me there is a problem but their supervisor won't let them fix the problem. Does anyone know who I can contact to resolve this issue ? Thanks ! A. You must provide the landlord with written notice of the problem. If after doing so, the landlord fails to fix the problem within a reasonable amount of time or 30 days, whichever comes first, you can escrow your rent with the county municipal court. Hello, this makes my second winter living at this apt. and have had to use emergency heat setting instead of just being able to set it normal. It blows out cold air when setting the way it’s suppose to be set. This emergency heat setting has caused my electric bill to extremely increase. My apt. is not that large and when I’m not home I turn the thermostat down. I am the only person living in this apt. I have had maintenance out since I moved here on several occasions and some say there is a problem and others say not. I have been told that all other tenants living here doesn’t have to keep there thermostat set on emergency. A few maintenance men have told me there is a problem but their supervisor won’t let them fix the problem. Does anyone know who I can contact to resolve this issue ? Thanks !

A. You must provide the landlord with written notice of the problem. If after doing so, the landlord fails to fix the problem within a reasonable amount of time or 30 days, whichever comes first, you can escrow your rent with the county municipal court.

]]> By: carla http://ohiorentersrights.com/chapters-7-10/chapter-7/comment-page-1/#comment-10692 carla Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:10:10 +0000 http://ohiorentersrights.com/chapters-7-10/chapter-7/#comment-10692 We recently had prescription drugs and money stolen by a roommate. The roommate not only confessed to us he had stolen these things, after being confronted, but actually wrote a letter of apology which we have in our possession. I don't know if this is pertinent, but he has other legal matters pending regarding a second DUI which he has totally ignored all directions given to him by the court. We presented all of this to our landlord, and had the police report and all of his records re: his DUI and past illegal activity. We wanted a new lease with him removed from the lease; and discussed with them that we needed their cooperation to remove him from the household per the local police. And they refused to help us. I have sent a letter by registered mail/signature required (as you have recommended on this site!) to the landlords stating just the facts of our conversation regarding all of this. What we want to know is this: if we are living with a thief who has entered our bedroom and admittedly stolen prescription drugs, and the landlords refuse to aid us, what can we do besides move out ourselves? Can we hold them responsible for any harm that comes to us because of their refusal to help us in this matter? A crime has been commited on their property and they are doing nothing about it. If he were growing pot on their property, not only would they be at risk for losing their rental property, BUT WE would be in trouble too! (as law enforcement will assume we are knowledgable or involved in the illegal activity). Any help is appreciated! A. If the roommate does not pay his share of the rent, you can attempt to evict him. Your other option may be to move out or threaten to move out if the lease is ending soon or if you are on a month to month tenancy. You could also bring criminal charges against the roommate and attempt to get a restraining order against him. We recently had prescription drugs and money stolen by a roommate. The roommate not only confessed to us he had stolen these things, after being confronted, but actually wrote a letter of apology which we have in our possession. I don’t know if this is pertinent, but he has other legal matters pending regarding a second DUI which he has totally ignored all directions given to him by the court. We presented all of this to our landlord, and had the police report and all of his records re: his DUI and past illegal activity. We wanted a new lease with him removed from the lease; and discussed with them that we needed their cooperation to remove him from the household per the local police.

And they refused to help us.

I have sent a letter by registered mail/signature required (as you have recommended on this site!) to the landlords stating just the facts of our conversation regarding all of this. What we want to know is this: if we are living with a thief who has entered our bedroom and admittedly stolen prescription drugs, and the landlords refuse to aid us, what can we do besides move out ourselves? Can we hold them responsible for any harm that comes to us because of their refusal to help us in this matter? A crime has been commited on their property and they are doing nothing about it. If he were growing pot on their property, not only would they be at risk for losing their rental property, BUT WE would be in trouble too! (as law enforcement will assume we are knowledgable or involved in the illegal activity).

Any help is appreciated!

A. If the roommate does not pay his share of the rent, you can attempt to evict him. Your other option may be to move out or threaten to move out if the lease is ending soon or if you are on a month to month tenancy. You could also bring criminal charges against the roommate and attempt to get a restraining order against him.

]]> By: lynllee13 http://ohiorentersrights.com/chapters-7-10/chapter-7/comment-page-1/#comment-8708 lynllee13 Tue, 25 Oct 2011 16:53:55 +0000 http://ohiorentersrights.com/chapters-7-10/chapter-7/#comment-8708 I just signed a lease on a 3 bedroom house in east Dayton. I called the water company to have the service transfered into my name when I found out their is a past due bill totalling almost 600.00 dollars. I was told by the rental company this would be paid prior to me moving in. I called again today to find out the bill still has not been paid and the rental company now states they are waiting to hear back from the water company that they are trying to work with the water company on the amount of the bill. I do not want to move into a house with no water what recourse do I have if any since I have already signed a years lease? A. You need to give written notice of the problem to the landlord. If they fail to fix it in a reasonable amount of time by providing you with water then one option you may have is to terminate the lease. I just signed a lease on a 3 bedroom house in east Dayton. I called the water company to have the service transfered into my name when I found out their is a past due bill totalling almost 600.00 dollars. I was told by the rental company this would be paid prior to me moving in. I called again today to find out the bill still has not been paid and the rental company now states they are waiting to hear back from the water company that they are trying to work with the water company on the amount of the bill. I do not want to move into a house with no water what recourse do I have if any since I have already signed a years lease?

A. You need to give written notice of the problem to the landlord. If they fail to fix it in a reasonable amount of time by providing you with water then one option you may have is to terminate the lease.

]]> By: Earline http://ohiorentersrights.com/chapters-7-10/chapter-7/comment-page-1/#comment-2079 Earline Tue, 08 Feb 2011 20:04:04 +0000 http://ohiorentersrights.com/chapters-7-10/chapter-7/#comment-2079 I am entering into my 3rd month on a 1 year lease for a duplex, when a plumbing issue arrived January 31, 2011. It started off as the kitchen sink getting clogged up and would not drain. After trying to unclog the kitchen sink all day longer, later we found that when flushing or running water in the bathroom, it was ejecting through the pipes of the kitchen sink. Later that evening when my neighbor came home she uses her bathroom, and that ejects through my kitchen sink as well as hers. So at this time we both have sewage in our kitchens and place a call to the landlord. He sends a plumber. The plumber cabled the main line from my neighbors side and states that he "found heavy cleaning wipes causing blockage 0 warranty due to abuse" ( This is the plumbers notes from the invoice receipt that the landlord is passing over to me). - February 1st I receive a call from my landlord at work stating that he is going to bill me because I flushed cleaning wipes down the toilet and per the plumber it was done recently and it came from my side. I told the landlord that I did not flush cleaning wipes down the toilet, I explained to him that I explained this to the plumber who questioned me if I had children, (I don't) suggested that I flushed baby wipes, then recanted and suggested that I flushed paper towels, (I don't use paper towels in the toilet), then proceeded to act as if I am not saying anything, and forcibly suggest that I am flushing wipes of some kind and paper towels down the toilet causing the blockage. That is relatively new. So I responded to my landlord, who is now forcibly telling me this is what I have done, the same as I responded to the plumber, how can you tell that something is relatively new when it is covered in sewage? Theoretically, a blockage of this magnitude seems it would take some time to build up? And how can it be proven that I caused it vs. my neighbor, or vs. the previous tenant (which I learned she had a 2 year old child and had recently evacuated the premises prior to me moving in). So eventually during the conversation between the landlord and I, I had to discontinue the call because now he are in total disagreement and it is no longer appropriate for me to have this dialogue with him at my place of work because of interference. At this point I am fully realizing that I should have never agreed to rent from this man. (More to this point) - February 2nd or February 3rd I receive a call from 'Clayton' a contractor for my landlord advising that he was going to be at the property to do an inspection to determine the amount of damage at the neighbors and if I would be available. I agreed to come home on lunch. Upon completing the inspection, he determined that there was no damage on my side. Advised I did a pretty good clean up, and advised that I should do a follow-up in about a week as far as thorough disinfection. He did state that the neighbor has to have her cabinets replaced. -February 6th. Conversing with my neighbor she advises me that in speaking with the landlord about what was happening within her unit and having cabinets replaced, that he is going to have me be held responsible for the replacement of her cabinets financially because this entire incident is my fault. He knows that more than likely I will not be able to afford it but still he is going to make me accountable. (Is he really having this conversation with my neighbor???) She wanted to give me a heads up because she viewed it as unfair and thought something was wrong in what he was saying and planning to do. February-8th (Today) I am leaving for work and decide to check my mailbox. I have a certified letter from my landlord metered Feb 1st. The letter is dated February 5th. The letter is stating how the "blockage was not due to damage or malfunction" and the "plumber cleared out a large mass of toilet cleaning pads recently introduced into the system from your side of the property." (Now it is cleaning toilet pads) The letter also states what is acceptable and not acceptable to be flushed... that since it was caused by tenant activity he has enclosed the an invoice for $200.00 that he wants it paid by February 15th or in two installments, one by the 15th and the other with March's rent payment. -My thoughts: I feel I am not responsible for this incident. However, I can consider going ahead and pay the invoice, because it will be of terrible inconvenience for me time wise and money wise to fight it. But if he is going to try and force me to pay for the damages that took place at my neighbors unit, then I feel I cannot go for that. Being he sent me this invoice, being he expressed his intent to the neighbor of him billing me, I have no choice but to believe I am going to be soon obtaining another invoice from this landlord. Chain of events: -I originally inquired about this property roughly between November 10th- November 15th; I wanted to move in December. It was advertised as a 1 BR furnished. -I was originally told that the rent was 400.00 because they are trying to get someone in as soon as possible and they did not want to do the clean up. I had to provide $450.00 deposit (50.00 application fee) and $400.00 for December's rent. I was assured that everything was working order and fair condition that this had been confirmed. -When I first viewed the unit everything looked fine. -When I actually started moving and cleaning, I discovered that the bathtub had been painted with the wrong type of paint and was chipping, the stove range top worked but the oven did not, the freezer was covered in mold. (When I first toured, I just opened the refrigerator door, but did not open the freezer).All of these things he gave me an excuse as to why he would not remedy it. Offered me a $100.00 credit if I replaced the stove. -I did not see the lease agreement until after I moved in and provided all monies requested. Matter of fact I did not finally meet with the landlord until December 30th to go over the lease and sign it because the appointment kept being rescheduled. If I would have seen this lease prior I would not have signed it honestly, but I did not see this for coming. (Lesson completely learned) -This lease states that I am responsible for all maintenance and repairs under $5000 and it does not require a building permit. It also states that "if Resident repair responsibilities conflict with any state laws to the contrary, Resident expressly agrees to fully waive and relinquish any protections so provided". It also states that I cannot allow a mechanic's lien, but they can enforce a lessor's lien. (It seems I just gave my life to the devil.) My Question: How can I fight this? Do I have rights? If I pursue my fight what scenarios can I be looking at or prepare myself for. I am entering into my 3rd month on a 1 year lease for a duplex, when a plumbing issue arrived January 31, 2011. It started off as the kitchen sink getting clogged up and would not drain. After trying to unclog the kitchen sink all day longer, later we found that when flushing or running water in the bathroom, it was ejecting through the pipes of the kitchen sink. Later that evening when my neighbor came home she uses her bathroom, and that ejects through my kitchen sink as well as hers. So at this time we both have sewage in our kitchens and place a call to the landlord. He sends a plumber. The plumber cabled the main line from my neighbors side and states that he “found heavy cleaning wipes causing blockage 0 warranty due to abuse” ( This is the plumbers notes from the invoice receipt that the landlord is passing over to me).
- February 1st I receive a call from my landlord at work stating that he is going to bill me because I flushed cleaning wipes down the toilet and per the plumber it was done recently and it came from my side. I told the landlord that I did not flush cleaning wipes down the toilet, I explained to him that I explained this to the plumber who questioned me if I had children, (I don’t) suggested that I flushed baby wipes, then recanted and suggested that I flushed paper towels, (I don’t use paper towels in the toilet), then proceeded to act as if I am not saying anything, and forcibly suggest that I am flushing wipes of some kind and paper towels down the toilet causing the blockage. That is relatively new. So I responded to my landlord, who is now forcibly telling me this is what I have done, the same as I responded to the plumber, how can you tell that something is relatively new when it is covered in sewage? Theoretically, a blockage of this magnitude seems it would take some time to build up? And how can it be proven that I caused it vs. my neighbor, or vs. the previous tenant (which I learned she had a 2 year old child and had recently evacuated the premises prior to me moving in). So eventually during the conversation between the landlord and I, I had to discontinue the call because now he are in total disagreement and it is no longer appropriate for me to have this dialogue with him at my place of work because of interference. At this point I am fully realizing that I should have never agreed to rent from this man. (More to this point)
- February 2nd or February 3rd I receive a call from ‘Clayton’ a contractor for my landlord advising that he was going to be at the property to do an inspection to determine the amount of damage at the neighbors and if I would be available. I agreed to come home on lunch. Upon completing the inspection, he determined that there was no damage on my side. Advised I did a pretty good clean up, and advised that I should do a follow-up in about a week as far as thorough disinfection. He did state that the neighbor has to have her cabinets replaced.
-February 6th. Conversing with my neighbor she advises me that in speaking with the landlord about what was happening within her unit and having cabinets replaced, that he is going to have me be held responsible for the replacement of her cabinets financially because this entire incident is my fault. He knows that more than likely I will not be able to afford it but still he is going to make me accountable. (Is he really having this conversation with my neighbor???) She wanted to give me a heads up because she viewed it as unfair and thought something was wrong in what he was saying and planning to do.
February-8th (Today) I am leaving for work and decide to check my mailbox. I have a certified letter from my landlord metered Feb 1st. The letter is dated February 5th. The letter is stating how the “blockage was not due to damage or malfunction” and the “plumber cleared out a large mass of toilet cleaning pads recently introduced into the system from your side of the property.” (Now it is cleaning toilet pads) The letter also states what is acceptable and not acceptable to be flushed… that since it was caused by tenant activity he has enclosed the an invoice for $200.00 that he wants it paid by February 15th or in two installments, one by the 15th and the other with March’s rent payment.

-My thoughts:
I feel I am not responsible for this incident. However, I can consider going ahead and pay the invoice, because it will be of terrible inconvenience for me time wise and money wise to fight it. But if he is going to try and force me to pay for the damages that took place at my neighbors unit, then I feel I cannot go for that. Being he sent me this invoice, being he expressed his intent to the neighbor of him billing me, I have no choice but to believe I am going to be soon obtaining another invoice from this landlord.

Chain of events:
-I originally inquired about this property roughly between November 10th- November 15th; I wanted to move in December. It was advertised as a 1 BR furnished.
-I was originally told that the rent was 400.00 because they are trying to get someone in as soon as possible and they did not want to do the clean up. I had to provide $450.00 deposit (50.00 application fee) and $400.00 for December’s rent.
I was assured that everything was working order and fair condition that this had been confirmed.
-When I first viewed the unit everything looked fine.
-When I actually started moving and cleaning, I discovered that the bathtub had been painted with the wrong type of paint and was chipping, the stove range top worked but the oven did not, the freezer was covered in mold. (When I first toured, I just opened the refrigerator door, but did not open the freezer).All of these things he gave me an excuse as to why he would not remedy it. Offered me a $100.00 credit if I replaced the stove.
-I did not see the lease agreement until after I moved in and provided all monies requested. Matter of fact I did not finally meet with the landlord until December 30th to go over the lease and sign it because the appointment kept being rescheduled. If I would have seen this lease prior I would not have signed it honestly, but I did not see this for coming. (Lesson completely learned)
-This lease states that I am responsible for all maintenance and repairs under $5000 and it does not require a building permit. It also states that “if Resident repair responsibilities conflict with any state laws to the contrary, Resident expressly agrees to fully waive and relinquish any protections so provided”. It also states that I cannot allow a mechanic’s lien, but they can enforce a lessor’s lien. (It seems I just gave my life to the devil.)

My Question:
How can I fight this? Do I have rights? If I pursue my fight what scenarios can I be looking at or prepare myself for.

]]> By: ohiorentersrights http://ohiorentersrights.com/chapters-7-10/chapter-7/comment-page-1/#comment-1940 ohiorentersrights Thu, 27 Jan 2011 19:14:41 +0000 http://ohiorentersrights.com/chapters-7-10/chapter-7/#comment-1940 http://www.ohiolandlordtenant.com/faq1.html is the procedure you want to follow. http://www.ohiolandlordtenant.com/faq1.html

is the procedure you want to follow.

]]> By: ohiorentersrights http://ohiorentersrights.com/chapters-7-10/chapter-7/comment-page-1/#comment-1933 ohiorentersrights Thu, 27 Jan 2011 19:08:16 +0000 http://ohiorentersrights.com/chapters-7-10/chapter-7/#comment-1933 You would generally follow the procedure outlined here - http://www.ohiolandlordtenant.com/faq1.html - in order to deal with the maintenance problems. You would generally follow the procedure outlined here – http://www.ohiolandlordtenant.com/faq1.html – in order to deal with the maintenance problems.

]]> By: ruben vargas http://ohiorentersrights.com/chapters-7-10/chapter-7/comment-page-1/#comment-1612 ruben vargas Sun, 02 Jan 2011 05:54:17 +0000 http://ohiorentersrights.com/chapters-7-10/chapter-7/#comment-1612 20 of december 2010, They espous my carpet, then a couple of days later they riped my wall off, they left insulation, wires next to fountion next to boxes the last 3 times that it rain water came to inside my house i got 3 infants with my wife and me , That only thing that covers my wall is a plastic tart every time that is windy the air comes in to my room.till this day that is 1january 2011. please help me . 20 of december 2010, They espous my carpet, then a couple of days later they riped my wall off, they left insulation, wires next to fountion next to boxes the last 3 times that it rain water came to inside my house i got 3 infants with my wife and me , That only thing that covers my wall is a plastic tart every time that is windy the air comes in to my room.till this day that is 1january 2011. please help me .

]]> By: YorktownResident http://ohiorentersrights.com/chapters-7-10/chapter-7/comment-page-1/#comment-1325 YorktownResident Mon, 06 Sep 2010 09:05:11 +0000 http://ohiorentersrights.com/chapters-7-10/chapter-7/#comment-1325 I live in Yorktown Colony Apartments in Riverside, Ohio. There are a number of things wrong with our apartment alone. But the problems are all over the place. For example one apartment nearby has a lot of garbage on the patio that has been there for nearly a year. There are laundry rooms on the property but none are really taken care of. There are locked doors for the storage areas, but those can also be accessed through the laundry rooms. The storage areas have a lot of stuff just piled into the numbered storage bins which are just wood frame and chicken wire. Many of them have obviously been there for a very long time, and with alot of water in the storage areas, many of these things have a lot of mold and mildew on them. I am certain the staff know of these problems, there is just too much evidence showing that they do. But nothing is being taken care of. Alot of entry and security lights are nonfunctional. Basically the owners take money and don't do what they are supposed to. Also the lease is entirely one-way. Nothing states what the owner is expected to do. I would like to sue the owners for all these problems, but not sure if just one person can sue for an entire complex. Alot of people rely on the owner to take care of things, and all don't want to risk anything so they just move out, which doesn't solve the problem. I want to solve the problem and make this place better. I would also like to become the owner, can that be possible? I live in Yorktown Colony Apartments in Riverside, Ohio. There are a number of things wrong with our apartment alone. But the problems are all over the place. For example one apartment nearby has a lot of garbage on the patio that has been there for nearly a year. There are laundry rooms on the property but none are really taken care of. There are locked doors for the storage areas, but those can also be accessed through the laundry rooms. The storage areas have a lot of stuff just piled into the numbered storage bins which are just wood frame and chicken wire. Many of them have obviously been there for a very long time, and with alot of water in the storage areas, many of these things have a lot of mold and mildew on them. I am certain the staff know of these problems, there is just too much evidence showing that they do. But nothing is being taken care of. Alot of entry and security lights are nonfunctional. Basically the owners take money and don’t do what they are supposed to. Also the lease is entirely one-way. Nothing states what the owner is expected to do.
I would like to sue the owners for all these problems, but not sure if just one person can sue for an entire complex. Alot of people rely on the owner to take care of things, and all don’t want to risk anything so they just move out, which doesn’t solve the problem. I want to solve the problem and make this place better. I would also like to become the owner, can that be possible?

]]> By: What about if the ceiling caves in due to wind storms we had back in September and the Apartment people are saying they are not responsible for any damage? http://ohiorentersrights.com/chapters-7-10/chapter-7/comment-page-1/#comment-436 What about if the ceiling caves in due to wind storms we had back in September and the Apartment people are saying they are not responsible for any damage? Thu, 08 Jan 2009 20:09:08 +0000 http://ohiorentersrights.com/chapters-7-10/chapter-7/#comment-436 My daughter lives in an apartment complex in Oxford Ohio and over the Christmas break her ceiling caved in and the apartment owners are not helping with the damages that were done to any of the items she had in her room, this is where the cave in happend. They told her to go through her renters insurance but they have said that since they do not cover structural damage then they too are not responsible. Where does she go from here? Bill, her Father My daughter lives in an apartment complex in Oxford Ohio and over the Christmas break her ceiling caved in and the apartment owners are not helping with the damages that were done to any of the items she had in her room, this is where the cave in happend. They told her to go through her renters insurance but they have said that since they do not cover structural damage then they too are not responsible. Where does she go from here?

Bill, her Father

]]> By: Ohio Renters Rights: Taking on your landlord : Ohio Renters Rights: Taking on your landlord http://ohiorentersrights.com/chapters-7-10/chapter-7/comment-page-1/#comment-13 Ohio Renters Rights: Taking on your landlord : Ohio Renters Rights: Taking on your landlord Mon, 10 Mar 2008 01:39:22 +0000 http://ohiorentersrights.com/chapters-7-10/chapter-7/#comment-13 [...] Chapter 7 [...] [...] Chapter 7 [...]

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