ohiolandlord
02-08-2006, 05:25 PM
I am a college student renting an off campus double. There are a total of three students who rent the double. We signed a lease. The landlord then told us, after the lease was signed, that the city housing code states that each bedroom must be within a specific number of feet from the bathroom. The landlord is currently making a bedroom where our dining room is - to comply. Is this legal for him to change the dwelling after we have signed the lease??? Are we within our rights as renters to have compensation for this? Or at least a credit to our rent for the month? Construction has already been ongoing for two weeks!!!
Answer: In Ohio, if you signed a lease, you can argue that you signed the lease for the premises as promised, and the landlord may not change the premises without your consent.
If he argues that the law is forcing him to change the premises, then you can argue that the contract you signed was for an illegal purpose and thus no longer valid.
You will want to speak with a local attorney before you make any decisions regarding this matter. The money that you pay that attorney for an hour of his or her time to get an opinion letter will be well worth it.
You should put any complaints you have about this to the landlord in writing, so that you can create a record of what went on if this ever goes to court.
To learn more about your rights as a tenant in the state of Ohio, you can download our book online at <a href="http://www.ohiolandlordtenant.com/book.html">http://www.ohiolandlordtenant.com/book.html</a>
Answer: In Ohio, if you signed a lease, you can argue that you signed the lease for the premises as promised, and the landlord may not change the premises without your consent.
If he argues that the law is forcing him to change the premises, then you can argue that the contract you signed was for an illegal purpose and thus no longer valid.
You will want to speak with a local attorney before you make any decisions regarding this matter. The money that you pay that attorney for an hour of his or her time to get an opinion letter will be well worth it.
You should put any complaints you have about this to the landlord in writing, so that you can create a record of what went on if this ever goes to court.
To learn more about your rights as a tenant in the state of Ohio, you can download our book online at <a href="http://www.ohiolandlordtenant.com/book.html">http://www.ohiolandlordtenant.com/book.html</a>