(a) If a landlord fails to fulfill any obligation imposed upon him or her by Ohio R.C. § 5321.04, other than the obligation specified in division (A)(9) of that section, or any obligation imposed upon him or her by the rental agreement, if the conditions of the residential premises are such that the tenant reasonably believes that a landlord has failed to fulfill any such obligations, or if a governmental agency has found that the premises are not in compliance with building, housing, health or safety codes that apply to any condition of the premises that could materially affect the health and safety of an occupant, the tenant may give notice in writing to the landlord, specifying the acts, omissions, or code violations that constitute noncompliance. The notice shall be sent to the person or place where rent is normally paid.
(b) If a landlord receives the notice described in division (a) above and after receipt of the notice fails to remedy the condition within a reasonable time, considering the severity of the condition and the time necessary to remedy it, or within 30 days, whichever is sooner, and if the tenant is current in rent payments due under the rental agreement, the tenant may do one of the following:
(1) Deposit all rent that is due and thereafter becomes due the landlord with the clerk of the municipal or county court having jurisdiction in the territory in which the residential premises are located;
(2) Apply to the court for an order directing the landlord to remedy the condition. As part of the application, the tenant may deposit rent pursuant to division (b)(1) above, may apply for an order reducing the periodic rent due the landlord until the landlord remedies the condition, and may apply for an order to use the rent deposited to remedy the condition. In any order issued pursuant to this division, the court may require the tenant to deposit rent with the clerk of court as provided in division (b)(1) above; or
(3) Terminate the rental agreement.
(c) This section does not apply to any landlord who is a party to rental agreements that cover three or fewer dwelling units and who provides notice of that fact in a written rental agreement or, in the case of an oral tenancy, delivers written notice of that fact to the tenant at the time of initial occupancy by the tenant.
(d) This section does not apply to a dwelling unit occupied by a student tenant.
(Ord. 53-08, passed 2-17-2009)