(a) It shall be unlawful for a landlord to terminate the lease agreement or periodic tenancy of any tenant without good cause or otherwise retaliate against any tenant because that tenant complained to the police or other City official or employee about nuisance or criminal activities on the landlord's premises, or the lease premises. It shall be unlawful for a landlord or any person acting as an agent for the landlord to intimidate or actively discourage a tenant and/or persons associated with a tenant from contacting the police or other City official or employee to report nuisance activity associated with a property. It shall be presumed that any attempt to increase charges, reduce services, or to otherwise harass or retaliate against the tenant during the twelve-month period following receipt of the complaint by the police or other city official or employee constitutes unlawful retaliation under this section. Such presumption shall be rebutted by the preponderance of evidence that the actions taken by the landlord were based upon good cause. "Good cause" as used in this subsection means that a landlord must show good cause for his or her actions, other than one related to or caused by the operation of this section. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a tenant's lease agreement or periodic tenancy may be terminated for a failure to pay rent; committing nuisance activity; committing waste upon the premises; violating the terms and conditions of the lease agreement or periodic tenancy upon expiration of such lease agreement; or as otherwise provided in Ohio R.C. 5321. A landlord's failure to renew a lease agreement or periodic tenancy upon expiration of such lease agreement or periodic tenancy shall not be deemed a violation of this subsection.
(Ord. 45-2022. Passed 10-11-22.)