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REPAIRS
TO
RENTALS
HOW
TO REQUEST REPAIRS.
WHAT
TO DO IF REPAIRS ARE NOT MADE.
GALLIA
COUNTY FAIR HOUSING PROGRAM
TELEPHONE:
740-446-4612
EXT. 232
HOW
TO REQUEST REPAIRS
AND
WHAT
TO DO IF REPAIRS ARE NOT MADE
First,
you must send a letter to the landlord outlining the needed repairs.
Be sure to retain a copy of this letter for your records.
This letter should be mailed certified,
return receipt requested. Include
photographs of problem areas, if possible.
Repairs
should be made by the landlord within a reasonable period of time, usually
defined as 30 days, unless the condition is threatening the tenant's health.
If
the landlord does not make the requested repairs, the tenant may do one of the
following:
Deposit all rent with the Clerk of Court's for the Gallipolis Municipal
Court. The tenant MUST
BE CURRENT IN RENT to use this option.
The tenant must have a copy of the letter sent to the landlord outlining
the requested repairs, along with proof the letter was sent (return receipt from
certified mail).
Ask the court to order the repairs to be made.
The tenant may ask that the rent be reduced until the until the repairs
are made, or that rent paid into the escrow account be released to make the
necessary repairs.
Terminate the rental agreement with no penalty (after proper notice is
given) if the landlord has failed to fulfill his/her responsibilities.
PLEASE
NOTE:
These actions cannot be taken against a landlord who owns 3 or fewer rental
units and who informed the tenant of this fact in writing at the time of
occupancy.
NOTICE
TO REMEDY CONDITIONS
This
letter may be sent to a landlord when requesting repairs be made:
Date:
Landlord's
Name:
Address:
Dear
This
letter is being sent to you pursuant to the Ohio Revised Code governing
obligations of a landlord, section 5321.04(A).
I am requesting the following repairs be made to the unit I occupy at
1
2
3
I
am requesting the aforesaid conditions be remedied by
(30 days from above
date).
Under
the Ohio Landlord-Tenant Law (Ohio Revised Code 5321.07(A), I have the right to
withhold payment of rent to the landlord under the following circumstances:
1
If the landlord fails to fulfill any obligations imposed on him/her by
the Ohio Revised Code 5321.04;
2
If the landlord fails to fulfill any obligations imposed on him/her by
the rental agreement;
3
If the conditions of the premises are such that the tenant reasonably
believes that the landlord has failed to fulfill any obligations;
4
If a government agency has found that the premises are not in compliance
with building, housing, health or safety codes which apply to any condition of
the residential premises that could materially affect the health and safety of
an occupant.
I
will be depositing my rent payments with the Clerk of Courts for the Gallipolis
Municipal Court if the conditions are not remedied.
Please
contact me as soon as possible to discuss when these repairs can be made.
Respectfully,
Tenant's
Name:
Address:
Telephone
Number:
Keep
two copies - one for you and one for the court.
FAILURE
TO REMEDY CONDITIONS
TENANT
TO VACATE UNIT
This
letter should be used when a landlord has failed to remedy conditions within a
reasonable time period and the tenant wishes to exercise his/her right to vacate
the premises.
Date:
Landlord's
Name:
Address:
Dear
On
I sent you a letter
indicating the following conditions existed in my rental unit and common areas:
In
my letter, I requested the aforesaid conditions be remedied by
. These items remain
uncorrected.
Under
the Ohio Landlord-Tenant Law (Ohio Revised Code 5321.07 (B)(3), I have the right
to terminate our rental agreement if I have given you written notice of the
aforesaid conditions and you fail to remedy then within a reasonable time.
Since you have failed to do so, I am moving out of the premises located
at
on
. Please send me my
security deposit of $
to me at the following address:
Under
the Ohio Landlord-Tenant Law, I am entitled to the return of my security deposit
within thirty (30) days of the termination of this agreement.
Respectfully,
Tenant's
Name:
Address:
Telephone
Number:
HELP
If
you cannot afford an attorney, but feel you need legal assistance, free legal
aid is provided every other Tuesday in the Gallia County Courthouse, second
floor meeting room by:
Southeastern
Ohio Legal Services
490
Richland Avenue
Athens,
Ohio 45701
1-800-686-3669
(Toll Free)
1-740-594-3558
(Local)
For
dates and times available at the Courthouse please call the Gallia County
Commissioner's Office @ 740-446-4612 Ext. 226.
If
you have questions about the information in this brochure, you are invited to
call:
Gallia
County Commissioner's Office
Karen
Sprague, Fair Housing Coordinator
18
Locust Street, Room 1292
Gallipolis,
Ohio 45631
1-740-446-4612
Ext. 232
FAIR
HOUSING IS MORE THAN A GOOD IDEA, IT'S THE LAW!
It
is illegal to discriminate against a person because of race, color, religion,
sex, national origin, handicap or familial status:
In the sale or rental of housing or residential lots.
In advertising the sale or rental of housing.
In the financing of housing.
In the provision of real estate brokerage services.
If
you feel you have been discriminated against, you may file a complaint with the
following:
HUD
1-800-669-9777 (toll free voice number)
HUD
1-800-927-9275 (toll free TDD number)
Ohio
Civil Rights Commission 1-614-466-5928
Funded
by Community Development Block Grant Funds, U. S. Department of HUD
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