Ohio Residential Lease Agreement Template

A fixed-term lease for a house, apartment or condo. It sets the rent, deposit, rules and responsibilities for both sides, with slots for the rules of the state where the home is located. This edition fills in the Ohio rules we could confirm and marks the rest as blanks to check.

Ohio rules for this form

Deposit limit. State law does not limit the amount of a security deposit. (Revised Code section 5321.16)

Deadline to return the deposit. The landlord has 30 days after the lease ends and the tenant gives back possession to return the deposit or send a written list of deductions with any balance. (Revised Code section 5321.16)

Notice before entry. Except in an emergency, the landlord must give reasonable notice of at least 24 hours before entering and enter at reasonable times. (Revised Code section 5321.04)

Late fees. No statute caps late fees on residential leases; a fee set in the lease is generally upheld when it is reasonable. (Ohio Revised Code chapter 5321 (no late fee statute))

Required disclosures. Homes built before 1978 need the federal lead-based paint disclosure and the EPA pamphlet. (Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act (42 U.S.C. 4852d))

Required disclosures. The lease or a written notice must give the name and address of the owner and of any agent who manages the property. (Revised Code section 5321.18)

Notice before a rent increase. No statute sets a notice period for rent increases; the lease controls during a fixed term, and a month to month increase generally follows the 30 day periodic notice. (Ohio Revised Code chapter 5321 (no rent increase statute))

Month-to-month notice. Either side ends a month to month tenancy with written notice at least 30 days before the next rent period. (Revised Code section 5321.17)

Cities and counties in Ohio can add their own rules on top of these. Check local ordinances before you sign.

What is in the template

1. Parties
2. Property
3. Term
4. Rent
5. Late charges
6. Security deposit
7. Other charges and fees
8. Utilities and services
9. Occupants and guests
10. Use of the property
11. Pets
12. Smoking
13. Maintenance and repairs
14. Alterations
15. Landlord entry
16. Subletting and assignment
17. Insurance
18. Default
19. Moving out
20. Notices
21. Disclosures
22. General terms
23. Signatures

Before you use it

• A residential lease is the main contract between a landlord and a tenant for a fixed term, usually 6 or 12 months.
• State law sets the limits on deposits, late fees, entry notice and eviction notices, and it overrides any lease clause that conflicts with it.
• A clause that waives a tenant's legal rights is usually unenforceable and can weaken the rest of the lease.
• Have an attorney in your state review your final version, and attach every disclosure your state and city require.

For the full explanation of this form, read our guide to the residential lease agreement.