Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Ohio

i have a lease that says i pay 800.00 a month. being told verbally 600 for rent, 200 for utilities. after almost 2 years the landlord comes to me and wants what she calls overages for utilities. what went beyond the 200 i pay her. everything is in her name. i don't even know what propane or electric company it is. never seen a bill. she says i have to pay according to lease and this line Utilities: lessee shall be responsible for arranging and directly paying for all utility service required on the premisies to the applicable public utility company. but then i have another sheet with their rules and a line that says all utilities have to be in renters name before moving in. this is crossed off initialed by line and signed at the bottom along with a statement of 600.00 rent. am i liable for the 2,000.+ dollars she wants for utilities?


Asked on 3/15/13, 10:55 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
John Sauter Cloppert, Latanick, Sauter & Washburn

Ultimately only a judge can determine your liability for the utility charges. However, it appears from the facts as you present them that your lease terms are for $800 paid monthly ($600 rent, $200 utilities).

Should you not pay the disputed amount, your landlord might choose to file a forcible entry and detainer action, known by its common name: an eviction action. Fighting the eviction, should you desire to stay in your apartment, could involve the need to retain a lawyer.

To attempt to settle the matter short on an eviction, write your landlord, bringing their attention to the terms of your lease, and ask them to waive the charges.

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Answered on 3/17/13, 1:06 pm


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