ORC 5321.04(A)(6):
Obligates a landlord to:
"Supply running water, reasonable amounts of hot water, and
reasonable heat at all times..."
If heat is included as part of the rent, the landlord has an obligation to provide that the temperature inside the dwelling unit be reasonable at all times. If you feel that the unit is being inadequately heated, you may use a thermometer to take readings of the temperature in the apartment and keep a record of the date and time of those readings. Some municipal housing or building departments have recording thermometers which may be borrowed by residents to record and create a record of the temperature over a twenty-four hour period. You may want to contact the building or housing department in your city to find out if such resources are available.
The law also requires that before a tenant may take action to deposit rent with the Clerk of Courts, terminate a written rental agreement and move-out, or file a motion to compel correction of the problem with the court, that the tenant must provide the landlord with a written notice of the problems to be corrected. If the landlord does not make the correct the problem within a reasonable length of time NOT TO EXCEED THIRTY (30) DAYS, upon receiving the notice, the tenant may then choose his/her remedy.
When rent depositing, the tenant must pay the rent to the Clerk of Court on the date the rent is due. If the due date falls on a weekend or holiday, the rent should be taken to the Clerk on the business day preceding the due date. Tenants who are behind in their rental payments are not eligible to rent deposit.
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