Landlord won’t fix it? Your options in Ohio
You have a ladder: written notice to the landlord, a code enforcement report through 311, Ohio’s rent escrow process through the court, and free legal help. Each step depends on the paper trail from the one before it. Start the trail today. For advice on your case, call the Legal Aid Society of Columbus at (614) 241-2001.
The full path
Step 1. Put the request in writing
Send the repair request in writing, dated, and keep a copy. Text or email counts. Ohio’s tenant remedies are built on written notice, so nothing else on this page works well without this step.
Step 2. Report it to the city
File with Columbus 311 online or at (614) 645-3111. An inspector confirming the violation turns your complaint into an official order against the landlord, on the public record.
The full path is in how to report your apartment complex.
Step 3. Rent escrow exists
Ohio law lets a tenant who is current on rent deposit it with the municipal court instead of the landlord after written notice goes unanswered. The court holds the rent until repairs happen. It is a real lever, and it has rules worth getting advice on before you use it.
Step 4. Get legal help, free
the Legal Aid Society of Columbus at (614) 241-2001 advises tenants at no cost. Retaliation, eviction threats, and escrow filings are exactly what they handle. Bring the paper trail from steps 1 and 2.
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Common questions
Can I just withhold rent until it is fixed?
Withholding on your own puts you at risk of eviction for nonpayment. Ohio’s route is rent escrow through the court, which protects you while applying the pressure. Get advice before starting it.
Can my landlord evict me for reporting them?
Ohio law bars retaliation against tenants for reporting code violations. If you get a rent hike, a non-renewal, or an eviction notice right after reporting, call the Legal Aid Society of Columbus at (614) 241-2001.
How long does the landlord have to fix something?
Ohio expects repairs within a reasonable time after written notice, and thirty days is the outer bound in most cases. Emergencies like no heat or no water are expected to move much faster.
Is this page legal advice?
No. It describes the standard paths and where they start. For advice on your specific situation, talk to a lawyer or call Legal Aid.
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Search an address →Contacts on this page were verified July 2026. City intake numbers and portals change rarely but they do change. If something here is out of date, the front door is always Columbus 311.
Know Your Block is an independent public-information project, not the City of Columbus and not a law firm. Nothing on this page is legal advice. Report counts come from official City of Columbus code-enforcement records and describe reports filed, not verified conditions.