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Not legal advice. This tool is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. AI analysis may contain errors — always verify flagged clauses independently and consult a licensed attorney or OSU Student Legal Services (614-247-5853) before making decisions based on this output. Ohio law is complex and fact-specific.

Columbus, OH · OSU student housing

Know your lease
before you sign it

Upload your lease PDF for an instant analysis. Browse Columbus landlord profiles, compare lease terms side-by-side, and learn every Ohio tenant right that applies to your situation.

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Ratings from OSU USG renter surveys, public records, and crowdsourced lease submissions. Lease analysis uses AI trained on Columbus housing patterns and Ohio Landlord-Tenant Act (ORC Chapter 5321).

Analyze your lease

Upload your lease PDF. We'll flag Columbus-specific red flags, match it to your landlord's known patterns, and cite the exact Ohio law that protects you. Anonymous data from your lease helps improve landlord profiles for future students.

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OSU Student Legal Services: student-legal.osu.edu · (614) 247-5853

⚠️ Not legal advice. AI analysis may contain errors. Verify all flagged clauses independently. Consult OSU Student Legal Services (614-247-5853) or an attorney before acting on this output.
Columbus landlord profiles

Ratings from OSU USG surveys, public records, and crowdsourced lease data. Click any landlord for full profile.

Side-by-side comparison

Key lease terms across all Columbus landlords. Use this before you sign.

LandlordTypeDepositAuto-renewal Entry noticeJoint & severalUtilities FurnishedPetsRatingScans
⚠ Data accuracy notice. Terms in this table reflect typical patterns sourced from OSU USG renter surveys, public records, and community-submitted leases. Individual leases vary by unit, year, and negotiation. This data has not been independently verified against every current lease — always read your specific lease document before signing. Landlord data improves over time as more leases are submitted through the Analyze tool.
Lease clause checklist

Every clause to find and understand before signing. Know what's normal, what's a red flag, and what's illegal.

💰 Money clauses
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Security deposit amount and conditions
Find the exact deposit amount and how deductions are calculated. Any "damage schedule" with preset prices is illegal under ORC 5321.16.
Normal: 1-2 months rent, returned within 30 days with itemized listRed flag: flat-fee damage schedules, no itemization clause
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Utility estimates and billing method
Columbus gas averages $80-120/month in winter for student houses. A $40 estimate is likely misrepresentation — NorthSteppe has been sued for this.
Normal: utilities excluded with no estimate, or accurate estimates disclosedRed flag: artificially low utility estimates in the lease
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Late fees
Ohio doesn't cap late fees but they must be reasonable. Look for the grace period — no grace period is a red flag.
Normal: $25-50 after a 3-5 day grace periodRed flag: no grace period, or fees exceeding 10-15% of monthly rent
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Early termination fee
If you break the lease, what do you owe? The landlord must mitigate by trying to re-rent — you only owe for vacant months, not every remaining month.
Normal: 1-2 months rent or liability until re-rentedRed flag: 3+ months penalty, or clause waiving landlord's duty to mitigate
🔄 Renewal and termination
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Automatic renewal clause
The most common trap. Does the lease auto-renew for another year unless you give written notice? Mark your calendar immediately.
Normal: 30 days notice required, or no auto-renewalRed flag: 60-90 day notice requirement buried in fine print
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Lease end date and move-out procedure
Is there a specific move-out time (e.g. noon)? Being late can trigger holdover rent charges at 2x the daily rate.
Normal: end of day on lease end dateRed flag: noon or earlier with no flexibility, steep holdover fees
👥 Occupancy and guests
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Joint and several liability
On a multi-person lease, all tenants are liable for the full rent. If a roommate doesn't pay, the landlord can come after any of you for the entire amount.
Normal: standard in multi-tenant leases — just make sure you trust your roommatesRed flag: no clear allocation of responsibility between tenants
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Guest policy
How long can guests stay before they're unauthorized occupants? Some leases limit guests to 3-7 consecutive nights.
Normal: 7-14 consecutive days or 30 days cumulative per yearRed flag: 3 days or fewer, or undefined with landlord discretion
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Subletting policy
Can you sublet if you study abroad or leave for a summer? Most Columbus leases require written landlord approval.
Normal: allowed with written approval within 14-30 daysRed flag: entirely prohibited, or no response deadline for approval
🏠 Property access and maintenance
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Landlord entry notice
Ohio law requires minimum 24 hours notice before entry for non-emergencies (ORC 5321.04). Any clause requiring less is unenforceable.
Normal: 24 hours written notice, entry during reasonable hoursRed flag: less than 24 hours, or "reasonable notice" without specifying
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Maintenance responsibility
Who handles what repairs? Some landlords shift routine maintenance costs to tenants through lease language.
Normal: landlord handles structural, systems, appliancesRed flag: tenant responsible for appliance repairs or HVAC maintenance
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Move-in inspection procedure
Your most important protection against bogus move-out charges. If not in the lease, create your own checklist and email it with photos on day one.
Normal: written move-in checklist signed by both partiesRed flag: no move-in inspection mentioned
⚖️ Illegal clauses — void even if you signed
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Waiver of statutory tenant rights
Any clause waiving your rights under Ohio landlord-tenant law is void under ORC 5321.13. You cannot sign away habitability, deposit protection, or entry notice rights.
Always illegal — unenforceable regardless of signature
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Landlord property seizure
Any clause giving the landlord the right to take your belongings for unpaid rent is illegal in Ohio.
Always illegal under ORC 5321.13
Your Ohio tenant rights

Complete coverage of the Ohio Landlord-Tenant Act (ORC Chapter 5321) in plain English.

Security deposits ORC 5321.16
30-day return deadline. Landlord must return your deposit within 30 days after the lease ends, along with a written itemized list of any deductions. Miss this deadline and you can sue for double the withheld amount plus attorney fees — but only if you gave a written forwarding address.
Written itemized deductions required. Every deduction must be explained in writing with actual costs. A vague or flat-fee damage schedule is illegal.
Normal wear and tear is protected. Landlord cannot charge for ordinary deterioration — only actual damage beyond normal use.
Interest on large deposits. If your deposit exceeds the greater of $50 or one month's rent, the landlord owes 5% annual interest on the excess portion after 6 months. If your deposit is equal to or less than one month's rent, no interest is owed regardless of amount.
Flat-fee damage schedules are illegal. Deductions must reflect actual documented repair costs, not preset amounts.
Landlord entry ORC 5321.04
24-hour advance notice required. Except genuine emergencies, landlord must give at least 24 hours notice and enter only at reasonable times. Any lease clause permitting less than 24 hours is unenforceable.
Maintenance requests = entry authorization. If you submit a maintenance request, that counts as permission for the landlord to enter and make repairs — no separate notice needed.
Habitability ORC 5321.04
Landlord must maintain a habitable unit. Required: working heat, plumbing, electrical systems, structural integrity, hot water, and common area safety.
Utility shutoff during tenancy is illegal. Landlord cannot cut off gas, electric, or water as a means of eviction or retaliation while you have the right of occupancy.
Rent escrow remedy. If landlord fails to fix a serious habitability issue within 30 days of written notice, you may deposit rent with the court clerk under ORC 5321.07 instead of paying the landlord directly.
Landlord responsible for structural repairs. Clauses shifting window, door, or structural repair costs to tenants "regardless of cause" likely violate ORC 5321.04.
Prohibited lease terms ORC 5321.13
These clauses are void even if you signed. A lease cannot: (1) exempt the landlord from their own negligence; (2) authorize the landlord to seize your property; (3) require you to pay the landlord's attorney fees; (4) waive your rights under ORC 5321. Note: clauses limiting landlord liability for third-party acts or events beyond their control are permitted — only the landlord's own negligence cannot be waived.
Eviction protections ORC 5321.15
Self-help eviction is illegal. Landlord cannot change locks, remove doors, cut utilities, or remove your belongings without a court order — even after a court grants eviction, only a bailiff can remove you. Columbus police: 614-645-4545.
3-day written notice required before filing for eviction. For nonpayment of rent, landlord must serve a written 3-day notice before going to court.
Retaliation protection ORC 5321.02
Landlord cannot retaliate for complaints. If you complain to a government agency about code violations, complain to your landlord about ORC 5321.04 violations, or organize with other tenants — landlord cannot raise rent, reduce services, or threaten eviction. Adverse action within 90 days of a protected complaint is legally presumed retaliatory.
Lease termination ORC 5321.17
Month-to-month: 30-day written notice required from either party to terminate. Week-to-week requires 7-day notice. Fixed-term leases end at their stated date unless renewed.
Landlord must mitigate damages. If you break a fixed-term lease, landlord must make reasonable efforts to re-rent. You only owe rent for months the unit sits vacant, not every remaining month automatically.
Auto-renewal must be clearly disclosed. Check your lease for renewal notice deadlines — missing them can lock you into another full year.
Get help OSU Student Legal Services: student-legal.osu.edu · (614) 247-5853
Ohio Legal Help: ohiolegalhelp.org · Columbus Tenant Hotline: (614) 645-6966
Community Legal Aid: clslaw.org · Full ORC: codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/chapter-5321

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