Willoughby, OH asked in Landlord - Tenant for Ohio

Q: If I move out mid-month so my landlord can prep for the next tenant, am I legally obligated to still pay the full month?

I was planning to spend the month of September moving from my previous rental house to another one. My landlord found a tenant that wants to move in Oct 1, and asked that I clear out ASAP so he can come in and prep the house for the next tenant. However, he said that the law says that if I live in a rental house for even one day of the month (I'm on a month to month lease, but gave him notice August 14 that I was moving out at the end of September but could move out earlier if he wanted me to), then I have to pay him that full months rent, even if I'm moving out early at his behest so he can take possession of the house to prep it. I am hoping to find some reference material on this, as I cannot find this specific law anywhere online at the state (OH) level.

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

A: A month to month lease runs for the calendar month if rent is paid on the 1st of each month. Your notice terminates your lease on Sept. 30, and you are obligated to pay full rent for Sept. You don't have to agree to leave early. You can stay until Sept. 30. If you do agree to leave early to make things easy for landlord, then landlord should return half month's rent. But landlord can refuse. If so, then you don't have to let landlord come in early. So work it out with landlord.

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