Free Ohio Residential Lease/Rental Agreement

Each state is required by Federal law to include the following essential terms and elements in their Rental/Lease Agreements:

1. contact and identifying information of the tenant and landlord,
2. property address and description,
3. any pet prohibitions or requirements,
4. lead-based and health hazard disclosures,
5. security deposit amount and the due date

Not every state will have identical elements when it comes to the requirements and provisions in their rental agreement.

It’s recommended you acquaint yourself with Ohio’s requirements and specificities to ensure that your Lease/Rental Agreement is comprehensive and protects your financial and legal rights fully.

Other Ohio Real Estate documents you might be interested in are:

• Sublease Agreement –  Used by a tenant to rent out all or part of their rented property to a new tenant.
• Eviction Notice – Used by a landlord to start the eviction process with a current tenant.

Table of Contents

• Ohio Residential Lease Agreement Sample
• Ohio Landlord and Tenant Laws

1. Ohio Residential Lease Agreement Sample

The sample lease agreement below describes a contract between “Landlord” Kevin Lee and “Tenant” Olivia Graham. She agrees to rent a duplex in Columbia for $1,000 per month for a fixed term. The tenant agrees to pay for all utilities and services for the Premises.

This is a good example of what provisions a simple lease agreement might contain, and how one should look in its final form.

2. Ohio Landlord and Tenant Laws

Ohio imposes additional and distinct requirements for landlords and tenants when executing a Lease/Rental Agreement. For example, Ohio Statutes provide for the following:

Security Deposit:

1. There is no limit as to the amount a landlord may collect as a security deposit from the tenant (No statute).
2. Any security deposit greater than fifty dollars ($50) must accrue interest on the difference at the rate of five percent (5%) per year and be paid annually to the tenant if the tenant lives at the leased property for more than six (6) months. (§§ 5321.16(A))

Landlord Right of Entry:

1. A landlord must provide a tenant with at minimum, twenty-four (24) hours written notice before entering the premises and may only enter at a reasonable time. (§§ 5321.04)

Additionally, Ohio law requires:

Further Contact Details:

1. Every rental agreement contains the contact details of the owner and the owner’s agent. (§§ 5321.18)