Ohio · Rental / Landlord-Tenant Repair

Ohio Renters: Who Pays for Repairs? (Landlord vs Tenant)

Who pays?
The landlord pays

In Ohio, the landlord must comply with housing codes and keep rental units fit and habitable, including working plumbing, heat, hot water, and electrical/HVAC systems, under Ohio Revised Code Section 5321.04.

High confidence · Verified Sep 13, 2026 · 2 sources

Exception
  • Tenant-caused damage is generally excluded from a landlord's habitability duty under Ohio's broader landlord-tenant framework, though the specific carve-out language was not part of this cited provision.
What to do next

What to do next

  1. Put the repair request in writing

    Send it to the landlord, date it, and keep a copy.

Work through the full repair checklist

If the repair is yours to pay

Get more than one quote before you agree to a price, and ask the contractor to confirm where the property line and the public side begin.

Repair-request & landlord/tenant forms (LawDepot)

Templates for a notice to repair, security-deposit demand, and more.

Partner link. Who Pays the Repair? may earn a commission if you request a quote or sign up, at no cost to you. It never changes who we say pays.

Responsibility Boundary

Default rule and exceptions

Ohio landlords must comply with housing codes and make all repairs necessary to keep the premises in a fit and habitable condition, under Ohio Revised Code Section 5321.04.

PartyWhat they are responsible for
LandlordMake all repairs and do whatever is reasonably necessary to put and keep the premises in a fit and habitable condition, including plumbing, heat, hot water, and electrical/HVAC systems, and keep common areas safe and sanitary (ORC Section 5321.04(A)(2)).
TenantAvoid causing damage beyond normal wear and tear; specific tenant-caused-damage remedy is not detailed in this cited section.
ExceptionsTenant-caused damage is generally excluded from a landlord's habitability duty under Ohio's broader landlord-tenant framework, though the specific carve-out language was not part of this cited provision.

What the source says

Last verified against the primary source on Sep 13, 2026.

Make all repairs and do whatever is reasonably necessary to put and keep the premises in a fit and habitable condition.
Ohio Revised Code Section 5321.04 - "Landlord obligations", checked Sep 13, 2026
the tenant may give notice in writing to the landlord, specifying the acts, omissions, or code violations that constitute noncompliance.
Ohio Revised Code § 5321.07: Failure of landlord to fulfill obligations, remedies of tenant, checked Sep 13, 2026
maintain in good and safe working order and condition all electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating, ventilating, and air conditioning fixtures and appliances, and elevators, supplied or required to be supplied by the landlord ... Supply running water, reasonable amounts of hot water, and reasonable heat at all times
Ohio Revised Code § 5321.04: Landlord Obligations, checked Sep 27, 2026

Common questions

Who pays for rental / landlord-tenant repair in Statewide, OH?

The landlord. Make all repairs and do whatever is reasonably necessary to put and keep the premises in a fit and habitable condition, including plumbing, heat, hot water, and electrical/HVAC systems, and keep common areas safe and sanitary (ORC Section 5321.04(A)(2)).

Are there exceptions in Statewide, OH?

Tenant-caused damage is generally excluded from a landlord's habitability duty under Ohio's broader landlord-tenant framework, though the specific carve-out language was not part of this cited provision.

What is this based on for Statewide, OH?

This verdict is sourced to Ohio Revised Code Section 5321.04 - "Landlord obligations" and 3 sources in total, each independently re-checked before publication.

Sources

  1. Ohio Revised Code Section 5321.04 - "Landlord obligations"statute · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-13
  2. Ohio Revised Code § 5321.07: Failure of landlord to fulfill obligations, remedies of tenantstatute · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-13
  3. Ohio Revised Code § 5321.04: Landlord Obligationsstatute · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-27
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