Common Problems

While living in your off-campus apartment/house, you may have questions about your rights, your landlord's responsibilities, which Off-Campus Student Services and/or The Student Housing Legal Clinic can assist you with. You may, unfortunately, run into some problems or have issues that you are not quite sure how to deal with. OCSS and the SHLC will work with you to help you come to a resolution.

Getting Repairs

• When you need a repair made in your apartment/house, you usually call your landlord to make the repair request. This is fine, but you need to always follow-up in writing. Send the written request to your landlord (hand deliver and get signed by office representative or certified mail) and always keep a copy for your records. Visit The Student Housing Legal Clinic for a sample "Notice To Repair" (PDFDocument) letter as well as additional information on getting repairs.
  
• The landlord typically has up to 30 days to repair non-emergency problems. If after 30 days of receiving the repair request in writing, the landlord has still not fixed the problem, you have a few options. (Remember: You must be current on your rent!).
  • * Option 1: Rent Escrow
  • * Option 2: Petition the Court to Order Repairs (PDF Document)
    
  • Option 3: Terminate the Lease (PDF Document)
    
  • Option 4: Take Legal Action To Recover Money Damages - Small Claims Court (PDF Document)
    

Problems With Your Landlord

• Sexual Harassment & Discrimination
  • If you feel you have been sexually harassed (PDF Document) by your landlord or his/her employee, contact the Student Housing Legal Clinic immediately.
  • If you feel your landlord or their employee has discriminated against you (PDF Document), contact the Student Housing Legal Clinic immediately.
• Sale of Property
  • During your lease term, it is possible that your landlord will sell the building you are living in (PDF Document). Even if you get a new landlord mid-year, your current lease still remains valid (but exceptions to exist).
• Unlawful Entry
  • Your landlord is required to provide 24 hours notice prior to entering the premises in non-emergency instances. If you are having issues with your landlord entering unlawfully (PDF Document), contact the Student Housing Legal Clinic immediately. You also want to send a "Notice of Unlawful Entry" (PDF Document) to your landlord (make sure to keep a copy for your records).
• Eviction
  • Your landlord has the right to evict a tenant for various reasons (PDF Document).
  • Your landlord must follow certain procedures (PDF Document) when evicting a tenant.
  • If you are being evicted, you should contact the Student Housing Legal Clinic immediately!
• Drug Activity (PDF Document)
• Noisy Neighbors (PDF Document)
  • If you are having issues with neighbors in your building being excessively loud and disruptive, contact your landlord immediately so that they are aware of the situation. You also want to send the landlord a "Notice of Noise Violation" (PDF Document) in writing (and make sure to keep a copy for your records).
  • If the problem persists, you may want to contact the police to report a noise disturbance. Make sure to keep a copy of the police report for your records, and send a copy to your landlord.
  • If you are being evicted (PDF Document) for noise violations, make sure you are aware of your rights and responsibilities. Contact the Student Housing Legal Clinic immediately at (614) 247-5853.
• Military
  • If you are a service member and are renting a property, know your rights under the Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act (PDF Document).

Landlord Retaliation (PDF Document)

• Unlawful retaliation (PDF Document)
• Rent increase (PDF Document)
• Discrimination (PDF Document)

Housing Code (PDF Document)

• If you suspect your unit has a code violation and your landlord refuses to fix the problem, you can contact the City of Columbus Housing Code Enforcement at (614) 645-8139 to request a Code Enforcement Officer to inspect the premises. You can also fill out an on-line request form at bds.td.ci.Columbus.oh.us. For more information, visit The Student Housing Legal Clinic (PDF Document)
  
• Pets & Rodents (PDF Document)
  
• Black Mold (PDF Document)
  
• Lead Paint Disclosure (PDF Document)