Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Ohio

In Ohio, losing your job will not be a defense to an eviction action (unless there was something improper that the landlord did that caused you to lose your job which would be a very rare circumstance).

Further, in Ohio, you don't have to file an Answer to an eviction action since the possession portion of that claim does fall under the normal rules of Civil Procedure.

However, if the landlord filed a second claim for relief for unpaid rent and other damages, you would eventually (28 days after receiving proper service of process of the complaint) have to file an answer with the court setting out your defenses, both factual and legal, to the claim for money damages.