Inman, SC asked in Landlord - Tenant for Ohio

Q: How long in Ohio can an Landlord sue you for supposed damages?

We relocated at the end of february, the landlord had his thirty day notice and walked through the property the same week we moved. Received no security deposit or list of damages within the 45 days the lease states, asked him yesterday about it and suddenly there is thousand of dollars in damage, even though he stated if he had to change the carpet no problem since it was stained when we moved in, and if he had to paint no problem since we had been there 3 years and wasn't painted before we moved in.

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1 Lawyer Answer
Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
Answered
  • Landlord Tenant Lawyer
  • Cincinnati, OH
  • Licensed in Ohio

A: Landlord must give an itemized list within 30 days after tenant vacates, or tenant can sue for 2x the amount withheld, plus attorney fees. Ohio Revised Code Section 5321.16 states: Any deduction from the security deposit shall be itemized and identified by the landlord in a written notice delivered to the tenant together with the amount due, within thirty days after termination of the rental agreement and delivery of possession. The tenant shall provide the landlord in writing with a forwarding address or new address to which the written notice and amount due from the landlord may be sent. If the landlord fails to comply with this section, the tenant may recover the property and money due him, together with damages in an amount equal to the amount wrongfully withheld, and reasonable attorneys fees. http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/5321.16v1

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