If you are served with a lawsuit the best thing you can do is immediately contact an attorney. There are many decisions that must be made in defending a lawsuit. What date do I have to file answer? Can I counterclaim? What does my pleading need to look like? Where do I send the answer?…
Read MoreWhat Can You Include in Your Residential Lease?
Generally, a landlord can include any term they want in a lease with a tenant. There are a few restrictions on this freedom to contract with your tenant. ORC 5321.06 states that a landlord and a tenant may include in a rental agreement any terms and conditions, including any term relating to rent, the duration…
Read MoreAvoid Security Deposit Problems
Landlords in Ohio can avoid security deposit problems in two important ways. First, when a lease is terminated with a tenant, follow the mandates found in ORC 5321.16. Specifically, any deduction from the security deposit shall be itemized and identified by the landlord in a written notice delivered to the tenant together with the amount…
Read MoreHodges Appointed to City of Cincinnati Board of Housing Appeals
J. Thomas Hodges was appointed by the mayor of the City of Cincinnati to serve a 3 year term on the Board of Housing Appeals. The Board of Housing Appeals shall have the duties and powers imposed by city ordinance and the Ohio Revised Code. The board shall hear appeals taken from notices of violation,…
Read MoreOhio Rent Escrow Notice Requirement
Rent escrow is never a fun process for landlords, or tenants for that matter. One way a landlord can attack a rent escrow case is to question the notice given prior to a tenant putting their rent in escrow. Ohio Revised Code 5321.07 says that “the tenant may give notice in writing to the landlord,…
Read MoreHodges’ Clients Vindicated as Victims of Fraud
Numerous clients of J. Thomas Hodges were vindicated today as victims of a massive fraud when former Ohio State Representative Pete Beck was found guilty of 13 criminal counts in Hamilton County, Ohio. The Dayton Daily News followed the trial from start to finish and wrote about today’s verdict. Click Here to read the full…
Read MoreHodges quoted by Dayton Daily News
J. Thomas Hodges was quoted in the Dayton Daily News in an article about subpoenas served on Hodges’ clients in relation to the criminal prosecution by the State of Ohio against former State Representative Peter Beck. Hodges filed a motion to quash subpoenas served on his clients that amounted to a fishing expedition. The scope…
Read MoreLandlord Retaliation Can Cost a Lot!
Landlords often have to deal with unwanted complaints from tenants. Often a landlord may conclude that it is easier to get rid of a tenant who complains than to deal with the complaints themselves. However, Ohio law protects certain tenants who make specific complaints to the Landlord or who takes certain actions. All Landlords should…
Read MoreWestwood Works hires Kevin Tolan as its first Executive Director
Westwood Works Westwood Works, is an an organization that considers existing local assets as the primary building blocks of sustainable community development and celebrates the Westwood community. By building on strengths that exist and connecting people to build a vibrant future, Westwood Works advocates for a positive, collaborative, and meaningful approach to community building. Kevin Tolan…
Read MoreI’ve got my eviction, now what?
Getting your tenant out after you get your eviction In Ohio, when you go to court to evict your tenant, the court will first give you what is called a “writ of eviction”. The writ of eviction generally means that the tenant has 7 days to vacate the premises. If the 7 days passes and…
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