by Peter Lohmann | Sep 4, 2026 | Leases, Owner Education, Property Maintenance
Move-out is the point in a tenancy where Ohio law gets specific and expensive. Here is the sequence that keeps a Columbus landlord out of a deposit dispute. TL;DR An Ohio tenant move-out runs on one hard deadline: under ORC 5321.16(B), the itemized deduction list and...
by Peter Lohmann | Sep 1, 2026 | Investing Strategy, Leases
Renewal offers on leases signed last spring are going out right now. On most of them, the decision is worth more than the rent difference it turns on. TL;DR Raise rent at renewal when the gap to market is 10% or more, when the resident has gone two years without an...
by Peter Lohmann | Aug 13, 2026 | Pet Policy, Property Management Education
Nearly 6 in 10 renters have a pet. A “no pets” policy doesn’t just shrink your applicant pool; it filters out long-staying tenants while doing nothing about the animals that show up anyway. The real question isn’t whether to allow pets....
by Peter Lohmann | Aug 10, 2026 | Eviction, Leases, Owner Education, Property Management Education
Ohio doesn’t cap late rent fees. That sounds like freedom until a magistrate strikes your $15-per-day charge as a penalty, or a Columbus tenant uses your oversized fee against you in an eviction. The rules live in the lease you wrote and the consistency you...
by Peter Lohmann | Aug 3, 2026 | Inspections, Owner Education, Property Maintenance, Property Management Education
A slow leak under a bathroom sink costs a few dollars to fix in March. Left alone until December, it can cost $3,000 in subfloor and drywall repairs. The difference between those two outcomes is usually one thing: whether anyone looked. TL;DR A quarterly rental...
by Peter Lohmann | Jun 22, 2026 | Leases, Owner Education, Rental Applications
A tenant announces they’re leaving early. Before you panic or start drafting demand letters, it’s worth knowing exactly where Ohio law puts you – and where it puts them. TL;DR Ohio tenants can legally break a lease under a limited set of circumstances:...
