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way a situation can go when resolving issues. What happens when my lease expires? There is a difference in what can and cannot happen when a tenant has a year-long lease as opposed to a month-to-month lease. If a tenant moved into a rental after signing a standard lease, then it is in effect until the end date. This offers certain protections and restrictions for both the tenant and the landlord. If the lease expires and a tenant has not signed a new lease, then they are typically considered month-to-month. Many of the same terms apply but can be changed with adequate notice. Landlords should provide a 30-day notice if they are going to terminate the lease, raise the rent, or change the terms of the agreement. Similarly, if a tenant wants to move, they can do so after giving a 30-day notice to the landlord. We advise tenants to keep their records for everything related to their rental in a safe place where they can fi nd them, especially the lease. Who is responsible for making repairs? Landlord-Tenant Pre-Litigation Mediation Program Available to Public The Fair Housing Center frequently receives calls from tenants who have questions about their rights or are experiencing problems with their rented house or apartment. To help address these issues outside the court and prevent evictions from occurring, the Fair Housing Center launched a Landlord-Tenant Pre-Litigation Mediation Program last year. We help tenants and landlords resolve confl icts and understand their rights and responsibilities. We don’t provide legal representation or legal advice in these cases, but we can provide general information about rights and responsibilities that apply to all tenants and landlords. These are some of the common issues we encounter. How do I know if my landlord is doing something improper or illegal? We are frequently asked, “Can my landlord do that?” The fi rst response you’ll tend to get is, “Well, that depends”. One of the fi rst pieces of information that comes in handy when dealing with landlord-tenant issues is the lease itself. The lease will set out a lot of terms that can affect which Page 4 Landlords are responsible for keeping the property in a fi t and habitable condition by making repairs and keeping common areas safe and clean. They should also provide running water and keep electrical, plumbing, heating and AC systems, and appliances in good working condition. Tenants should keep their unit safe and clean, use electrical and plumbing fi xtures correctly, and keep appliances in good working order. They should avoid damaging the property and keep guests from causing damage. Tenants should notify landlords in writing if there are maintenance or repair issues. It is also a good idea to document any problems by taking pictures, creating a written record, and keeping copies of all correspondence including letters, emails or texts. If a landlord does not make repairs in a reasonable time after being notifi ed, the tenant may place their rent in escrow through the Housing Court. Can my landlord evict me? A landlord can evict a tenant if they do not pay rent or if they violate the lease agreement. It is important to note that a landlord cannot forcibly remove a tenant from the property. This includes changing locks, shutting off utilities, or removing the tenant’s belongings. In order for a landlord to evict a tenant, they must provide proper notice, fi le an eviction in court, and obtain a court order. Tenants will be notifi ed by the court if an eviction has been fi led. Tenants facing eviction are strongly encouraged to seek legal representation to help better understand and assert their rights. Income eligible tenants may be able to obtain an attorney at no cost. What happens when my landlord is selling the property? The housing market is very active these days and many properties are being bought and sold, including rental properties with tenants currently in them. There is often confusion about what happens when the property changes hands from one owner to another. Many times there is not communication to the tenant about the changes, so tenants are unsure who the new owner is or where to pay rent, or they may not know if their lease or security deposit transfers. If the lease has not expired, it transfers with the property and those terms are still applicable, unless the tenant agrees to enter into a new contract. For month-to-month tenants, the original terms can be changed after a 30-day notice, which includes lease termination or increase in rent. Depending on how the sale of the property occurred, the security deposit may not transfer with the sale of the property, so tenants may have to contact the previous owner about getting their original deposit returned. The cost of rent and due date should remain the same unless the tenant is provided with updated information. Tenants should document rent payments with receipts, check stubs, or photographs. These situations can be tricky, but through our Landlord-Tenant Mediation program, we attempt to help landlords and tenants work together to fi nd ways to balance the business needs of the property with the personal fi nancial needs of the tenants. What is Landord-Tenant mediation? Mediation is a voluntary and confi - dential process that brings disputing parties together to resolve confl icts. The mediator does not impose a solution but rather helps the tenant and landlord reach a solution that works for them. Services through our Landlord-Tenant Mediation Program are free, allowing parties to avoid costly court cases. Because mediations can often be scheduled more quickly than other options, it also saves time. The mediation process encourages landlords and tenants to work together, which creates a better long-term relationship. Landlords and tenants in Lucas County can benefi t from this program by contacting the Fair Housing Center at (419) 243-6163. Training videos covering a variety of common landlord-tenant issues can be found on the Fair Housing Center’s Facebook page. Eviction Update for Toledo, Ohio The moratorium on evictions ended on September 20. So what is the current state of evictions in Toledo and Lucas County? Are mass evictions coming our way? Probably not. Renters are given 30 days to vacate the premises before the landlord can fi le an eviction action in court. Under normal circumstances, a court date is usually set within two weeks of a landlord fi ling an eviction action in court. However, due to COVID-19, the courts have pushed back many eviction hearings into October and later. According to the Toledo Blade, Veronica Martinez, managing attorney for Legal Aid of Western Ohio, which serves 32 counties in the state, stated that she was optimistic about the state of evictions in Ohio. Ms. Martinez “is hopeful that because Toledo already has some safety nets in place, it won’t see a surge in families turning to shelters, moving in with family, or sleeping in their cars because of evictions.” Carol Walls, president of Toledo Property Investors Network, agrees and isn’t concerned about a spike in local evictions. “Most of them get settled in the hallway before they ever get in front of a judge,” she said. “The majority of them, even on a regular basis, the majority of them get worked out. I don’t see it being a big issue,” she told The Blade. Experiencing an Eviction? If you are unable to pay your rent and fear eviction, there is help. Lucas County Metropolitan Housing Agency (LMHA) continues to offer assistance to renters during the pandemic. If you’ve lost your income or have experienced a change in income (related or unrelated to COVID-19), contact your landlord right away. Many times, your landlord will work with you to come to an agreement, which is much better than having an eviction on your rental history. Those who need help paying rent have other resources, according to WTOL-TV:. • Toledoans who have lost their jobs or income should contact Lutheran Social Services of Northwest Ohio at (419) 243-9178. •Emergency Housing Assistance Program is for those who live in Lucas County but outside of Toledo who cannot pay rent due to COVID-19. Contact Great Lakes Community Action Partnership at (419) 333-6101. •Repayment Agreement – LMHA is offering assistance to establish a repayment agreement between you and your landlord if you are unable to qualify for other programs. Contact your landlord or LMHA at (419) 2599400 during business hours. Even with the eviction moratorium, landlords continued to fi nd ways to kick renters out The Conversation provides insight on challenges during the eviction moratorium By Matthew Fowle and Rachel Fyall Millions of renters in the U.S. lost a key protection keeping them in their

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