The Ohio Department of Liquor Control issues a large number of liquor licenses and it can be difficult to select which one is right for your small business. Ohio law allows for dozens of licenses with wildly varying price points. There are “off-premise” or “carry out” licenses that allow customers to purchase beer or wine…
Read MoreOhio Landlord Alert
Ohio Landlord Trends for 2017: Jury Trials – Tenants are requesting jury trials in eviction cases at a rapid rate. A jury trial can slow the eviction process for a landlord from about 1 month to more than 6 months. This means lost money and time. You should immediately contact an attorney if a tenant…
Read MoreWhat do I do if I get sued in Ohio?
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 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 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 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…
Read MoreThe Landlord Tenant Relationship
The Landlord-Tenant Relationship has four essential components. There is always a landlord, a tenant, residential property, and a lease or rental agreement. The term rental agreement is defined by Ohio law in ORC 5321.01(D) as any agreement or lease establishing or modifying the terms, conditions, rules, regulations, or any other provisions regarding the use and…
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