(a) No landlord of residential premises shall initiate any act, including the termination of utilities or services, exclusion from the premises, or threat of any unlawful act against a tenant or a tenant whose right to possession has been terminated, for the purpose of recovering possession of residential premises, other than as provided in Ohio R.C. Chapters 1923, 5303 and 5321.
(b) No landlord of residential premises shall seize the furnishings or possessions of a tenant, or of a tenant whose right to possession has terminated, for the purpose of recovering rent payments, other than in accordance with an order by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(c) A landlord who violates this section shall be liable in a civil action for: at the tenant’s option, either all damages caused to the tenant or to the tenant whose right to possession has been terminated, or damages of an amount not less than $50 nor more than $500; and the tenant’s reasonable attorneys’ fees.
(Ord. 53-08, passed 2-17-2009)