Ohio Landlord Tenant Legal Rights

Q.  In Ohio, how long does the landlord have to return the security deposit of the tenant?

A.  In Ohio, if the landlord receives written or actual notice of the tenant’s security deposit forwarding address, the landlord must return the security deposit or the balance plus an itemized list of reasons in writing as to why the tenant is not getting the deposit back.  This must be accomplished within 30 days of the receipt of the written notice and the end of the tenancy.

If the tenant can show that any portion of the security deposit was wrongfully withheld, then the tenant is entitled to recover double damages and attorneys fees under Ohio Revised Code Section 5321.16.