Ohio Landlord Responsibility Statement

Effective Date: November 1, 2025

Purpose

This Landlord Responsibility Statement sets the obligations and standards that all landlords and property managers must follow when using the Tentunit platform to list and manage rental properties in Ohio. By using Tentunit, landlords agree to uphold these responsibilities to ensure a trustworthy, transparent housing environment for student renters and to comply with applicable federal, state, and local law.

Listing Accuracy and Transparency

All listings on Tentunit must be complete, current, and truthful. You must state the exact rent, lease term, availability date, and all required fees (e.g., application fees, security deposit, pet deposits/fees, parking, utilities pass-throughs, amenity fees) up front. Photos must show the unit as it is now—no model-unit photos or misleading edits. Federal advertising rules require marketing to be truthful and non-misleading; Tentunit enforces this standard. If anything material changes (availability, price, fees, amenities), you must update the listing immediately.

You must:

State full pricing and terms. Monthly rent, lease length, required deposits/fees, utility responsibilities, and any one-time or recurring charges.
Use accurate photos. Actual, recent photos of the unit and common areas.
Confirm availability. Do not market units that are not truly available.
Keep it current. Promptly correct or remove listings when status changes.

No Misleading or Deceptive Practices

“Bait-and-switch” or similar tactics are strictly prohibited on Tentunit. Do not imply amenities or features that don’t exist; do not list teaser rates that are not actually available; clearly disclose any “starting at” pricing and the real conditions that apply. Fair-housing law also makes it illegal to misrepresent availability based on a protected class.

You must:

Describe honestly. Don’t overstate square footage, condition, views, or amenities.
Price honestly. Specials must be genuine and available; state eligibility criteria and dates.
Remove inactive units. If the unit is taken or held, mark it accordingly without delay.

Full Disclosure of Policies and Fees

Ohio does not set statewide caps for application fees or require a specific screening-criteria notice. Regardless, Tentunit requires clear, up-front disclosure of: screening criteria (e.g., income threshold, credit/background checks), occupancy limits, pet/smoking rules, deposits and any fees in lieu of deposits, parking/amenity/utility billing methods (e.g., submetered or allocated), and any recurring platform or processing fees. Disclose whether renter’s insurance is required and any campus-specific rules that apply to student housing.

Timely Communication

Tentunit requires prompt, professional communication with applicants and tenants. Respond to messages and maintenance requests within 24 hours (no later than 48 hours) via Tentunit messaging or another documented channel. Keep prospects informed about application status; keep tenants informed about repairs and scheduled entries. Failure to communicate or abusive conduct on-platform can result in listing suspension.

You must:

Acknowledge and triage maintenance submissions quickly, communicate next steps/ETAs, and close the loop in writing.
Stay professional & nondiscriminatory in every interaction (see “Fair Housing and Equal Access”).
Keep listings current—availability, rent, amenities, photos, and policy changes must be updated promptly.

Fair Housing and Equal Access

All Tentunit landlords must follow the federal Fair Housing Act and the Ohio Civil Rights Act. Ohio law prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, sex, military status, familial status, ancestry, disability, or national origin; state regulations further define disability protections and procedures. Local ordinances may add categories (e.g., source of income in certain cities). It is also illegal to misrepresent availability because of a protected class or to interfere with fair-housing rights.

You must:

Avoid discriminatory statements in ads and messages.
Offer reasonable accommodations and allow reasonable modifications for disabilities as required by federal and Ohio law.
Apply neutral, consistently enforced screening criteria to all applicants.
Know your locality. Some Ohio cities add protections; conversely, rent control is preempted statewide—cities generally cannot impose rent caps.

Rent Collection and Payment Structure

Tentunit collects rent on your behalf, deducts authorized platform service and payment-processing fees, and disburses the net proceeds per Tentunit’s Payment Terms. Fees and payout timelines may vary by jurisdiction and product features; consult the current Tentunit Payment Terms. Tentunit may pause or hold funds during disputes or suspected violations, consistent with law and our policies.

State-specific reminders:

Late fees. Ohio has no statutory cap; fees must be reasonable and not punitive.
Self-help is illegal. Never change locks, remove doors, or shut off utilities to force payment; Ohio law expressly prohibits removing/excluding tenants or interrupting utilities—violations carry damages and attorney’s fees.

Property Condition and Maintenance

Ohio law requires landlords to keep the premises in a fit and habitable condition: comply with building, housing, health, and safety codes; make all necessary repairs; keep common areas safe and sanitary; supply running water, reasonable amounts of hot water, and reasonable heat where the utility is under the landlord’s control; and maintain all electrical, plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning systems in good and safe working order.

You must:

Provide and maintain essential services (heat/hot water/potable water) where applicable.
Keep structure and systems in good working order; remedy infestations and hazards.
Install and maintain smoke alarms as required by state law and local code, and carbon monoxide alarms where required by the Ohio Fire Code (e.g., fuel-burning appliances or attached garage).

Maintenance and Repairs

When notified of conditions that materially affect health or safety, you must repair or remedy within a reasonable time after proper notice; tenants have statutory remedies if you fail to do so, including rent escrow and, in specific circumstances, termination. Retaliation for good-faith complaints is unlawful for six months.

You must:

Provide clear repair request channels (Tentunit portal preferred).
Document notices, attempts, and completion.
Prioritize emergencies (loss of heat in season, gas leaks, sewage backup, loss of potable water, etc.).
Understand the rent-escrow path: after written notice and waiting a reasonable time (up to 30 days, unless the issue is urgent), tenants may deposit rent with the court until repairs are made.

Lease Terms: Utilities and Services

Spell out who pays what (electric, gas, water/sewer, trash, internet/cable) and explain any billing method (submetered, allocated, or master-metered). Do not interrupt utilities as leverage—utility shutoffs are illegal self-help.

Include any requirements for smoke/CO detectors, appliance responsibilities, and internet/campus-network rules applicable to student housing. If a utility is exclusively controlled by the tenant, the tenant bears usage responsibility; otherwise, you must supply reasonable amounts of essential services that you control.

Inspections and Cleaning Schedules

Ohio law requires reasonable notice and reasonable times for entry, except in emergencies; 24 hours is presumed reasonable if not otherwise agreed. Use Tentunit to schedule entries, state purpose, and confirm time windows. Respect quiet hours and privacy; do not photograph tenant belongings except as needed to document conditions/repairs.

If you provide cleaning or routine maintenance (e.g., corridor cleaning, landscaping), disclose scope and frequency in the lease or house rules.

Emergency Contact Information

At or before lease execution, provide tenants with 24/7 emergency contact information for repairs and safety issues. Ohio law also requires you to disclose owner/agent identity and address in the lease or by written notice/posting; keep this information current in your Tentunit listing profile and lease file.

Lease Terms and Legal Compliance

Your Ohio lease must be written, delivered, and executed through Tentunit’s digital process and honor all federal, state, and local requirements.

Key Ohio items to address clearly:

Notice to terminate periodic tenancies. 30 days for month-to-month; 7 days for week-to-week (notice must be given before the periodic rental date).
Eviction notices. Before filing, you must serve a 3-day “Notice to Leave the Premises” containing the exact statutory warning language; service/methods and business-day counting rules apply.
Entry rights. Reasonable notice/reasonable times; 24 hours presumed reasonable; emergencies excepted.
Anti-retaliation. Prohibited for six months after protected tenant actions (e.g., code complaints, organizing).
Self-help barred. No lockouts or utility interruptions.
Rent control preemption. Local rent control is preempted by state law.
Lead-based paint (pre-1978). Provide federal EPA/HUD disclosures and pamphlet.
Smoke/CO alarms. Comply with state and local adoption of the Ohio Fire Code and Ohio Building Code.

Move-In and Move-Out Standards

Move-In: Deliver the unit clean, safe, and functional. Test smoke alarms at move-in and document they work. Provide keys/fobs and any access credentials. Use Tentunit’s move-in checklist (with photos) jointly signed at possession.

Move-Out: Offer a pre-move-out walkthrough on request. After surrender, perform a detailed inspection against the move-in checklist with date-stamped photos and invoices for any beyond-wear repairs.

Security Deposit Disclosure and Handling

Tentunit can collect and hold security deposits (or process any deposit-alternative product you legally offer). Ohio does not cap deposit amounts, but it sets interest and return rules:

You must:

Disclose deposit terms (and any lawful deposit-alternative option) in the listing and lease.
Return timeline. Provide an itemized, written list of lawful deductions and return any balance within 30 days after termination of the tenancy and delivery of the tenant’s forwarding address. Lawful deductions include unpaid rent and damages beyond normal wear and tear.
Interest. If the deposit exceeds $50 or one month’s rent (whichever is greater) and the tenancy lasts six months or more, pay 5% simple interest per year on the excess amount, payable annually.

Tentunit process:

We collect and safeguard deposits in a custodial account.
At move-out, we obtain your itemized deductions with proof (photos, invoices, receipts).
We disburse any remaining balance (or the full amount if no deductions) within Ohio’s 30-day timeline, delivering the itemized statement to the forwarding address on file.

Documentation & Enforcement: Keep signed checklists, notices, communications, photos, and invoices. Improper withholding can result in liability (including attorney’s fees). Tentunit may suspend noncompliant accounts.

Indemnification and Violations

Indemnification. Landlord shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Tentunit, its affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, and contractors from and against all claims, losses, liabilities, damages, costs, or expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising from or related to the Landlord’s actions or omissions, including (a) breach of this Statement or any Tentunit policy; (b) violation of any law or third-party right; (c) negligence, fraud, or misrepresentation; (d) injury or damage caused by the listing, property, or services; and (e) disputes with tenants or other users.

Platform enforcement. If you violate this Statement or Tentunit policies (including misrepresentation, discrimination, or other prohibited conduct), Tentunit may suspend or terminate your account and remove listings without prior notice or liability. Severe or repeated violations may result in permanent blacklisting. Tentunit may seek injunctive relief and recover costs and fees where permitted. These remedies are cumulative.

References

Ohio Rev. Code ch. 5321 (Landlord–Tenant Act) – duties, entry, retaliation, deposits, owner/agent disclosure, rent-escrow, termination of periodic tenancies. Ohio Revised Code+5Ohio Revised Code+5Ohio Revised Code+5
Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.15 – no self-help: unlawful removal/exclusion/utility interruption. FindLaw Codes
Ohio Rev. Code ch. 1923 & § 1923.04 – 3-day “Notice to Leave the Premises” and required statutory warning language; service/counting. Ohio Revised Code+2portagecounty-oh.gov+2
Ohio rent-control preemption (HB 430; ORC § 5321.19 / § 5321.20 policy) – statewide preemption of local rent control. caahq.com+2Vorys+2
Ohio Civil Rights Act (ORC ch. 4112) & OAC ch. 4112-5 – protected classes, unlawful housing practices, disability rules; OCRC guidance. civ.ohio.gov+3Ohio Revised Code+3Ohio Revised Code+3
Reasonable notice for entry (24-hour presumption) – ORC § 5321.04(A)(8) and Ohio fair-housing/municipal guidance. Fair Housing Contact Service –
Rent escrow & timelines – ORC §§ 5321.07–.10; tenant guide summaries (COHHIO and municipal courts). Justia+1
Smoke alarms & CO detectors – ORC § 3781.104; Ohio Fire Code (OAC 1301:7-7) and State Fire Marshal CO guidance; local adoptions. Justia+2Ohio Department of Commerce+2

Note: This Statement is a platform policy document and general legal summary for Ohio. It is not legal advice. Local ordinances (e.g., added protected classes, detector rules) may impose additional requirements—you are responsible for compliance with any local overlays applicable to your property.