Free Ohio Lease Agreement Form

Ohio Laws and Lease Requirements

Ohio’s landlord-tenant rules are in Chapter 5321 of the Ohio Revised Code. They cover security deposits, notice to end a tenancy, and the duties of each side of the rental property. The landlord is the person or company that owns and rents out the property, and the tenant is the person who lives there and pays rent. The sections below explain what applies once both sides sign an Ohio lease agreement.

Security Deposit Laws

Section 5321.16 of the Ohio Revised Code sets out what the landlord and the tenant must do about the security deposit once the lease ends.

• The landlord must return the deposit within thirty days after the lease ends and the tenant moves out.
• Any money the landlord keeps must be itemized and explained in a written notice to the tenant, sent within that same thirty days.
• The tenant must give the landlord a forwarding address in writing so the landlord has somewhere to send that notice.
• When the deposit is more than fifty dollars or one month’s rent, whichever is greater, and the tenant stays six months or longer, the landlord owes interest on the amount above that threshold at five per cent (5%) per annum, paid to the tenant once a year.
• A landlord who ignores these rules owes the tenant the withheld amount, plus an equal amount in damages and reasonable attorney’s fees.^[1]

Notice to End a Tenancy

Ohio sets separate notice periods for ending a week-to-week or a month-to-month tenancy under Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.17. A lease with a fixed end date is different. Section 5321.17 sets no notice period for it, so it simply ends on that date unless the lease itself requires notice.^[2]

• Either side can end a week-to-week tenancy by giving the other at least seven days’ notice before the termination date named in the notice.
• For a month-to-month tenancy, either the landlord or the tenant must give at least thirty days’ notice before the next periodic rental date. Count the notice period with our deadline calculator so you do not miss it.^[2]

Common Types of Rental Agreements in Ohio

There is no single residential lease agreement template used across the United States, because the rules vary by state and by the type of property being leased. A lease for an apartment looks different from one for an office.

Ohio offers several versions of the form. You can find at least seven of them below:

• Lease-to-own agreement: a rent contract that gives the tenant an option to buy the property later.
• Room lease (or roommate) agreement: for tenants sharing a house or apartment and splitting rent.
• Sublease agreement: lets a current tenant rent their space to someone else for part of the lease term.
• Commercial rental agreement: for a business renting office, retail, or industrial property instead of a home.
• Month-to-month rental agreement: renews automatically each period until either side gives notice to end it.
• Standard (fixed-term) rental agreement: the most common contract, running for a set term such as one year.
• Letter of rent termination: the written notice a landlord or tenant sends to end the tenancy.

When you complete a lease agreement in Ohio, first, make sure that you have chosen the right template.

Key Terms in an Ohio Lease Agreement

Whichever template you pick, an Ohio lease agreement is a contract, so it should cover the same basics that let both sides know what they agreed to:

• The property address and a description of what is being rented.
• The full names of the landlord and every tenant on the lease.
• The rent amount, the due date, and how the tenant is expected to pay it.
• The security deposit amount and the rules covered above.
• The lease term: a start date, an end date or renewal date, and whether it runs month-to-month or for a fixed term.
• House rules such as pets, smoking, guests, late fees, and who handles routine maintenance on the property.
• The property’s move-in condition, often noted on a walkthrough checklist so both sides agree on its state before the tenant moves in.
• Signatures from the landlord and every tenant.

FormsPal’s builder fills in a PDF version of this contract for you, with each field ready for the landlord’s and tenants’ details.

Ohio Rental Lease Agreement Form Details

The table below summarizes this Ohio lease agreement PDF form, including how the security deposit rule above applies to it.

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Frequently Asked Questions

These are the questions landlords and tenants ask most about an Ohio lease agreement. They cover the security deposit deadline, whether thirty days’ notice is required, and how to end a tenancy. Each answer names the Ohio Revised Code section it comes from.

How long do landlords have to return a deposit in Ohio?

A landlord has thirty days after the lease ends and the tenant moves out to return the security deposit. If the landlord keeps any part of it, that amount must be itemized in a written notice sent to the tenant within that same thirty days.^[1]

Does a landlord have to give you 30 days notice in Ohio?

It depends on the tenancy type:

• Month-to-month tenancy: at least thirty days’ notice before the next periodic rental date.
• Week-to-week tenancy: at least seven days’ notice before the termination date named in the notice.
• Fixed-term lease: Section 5321.17 sets no notice period, so it simply ends on its stated end date unless the lease itself requires notice.^[2]

These are the periods set by Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.17.^[2]

How to terminate a lease in Ohio?

How you end a lease in Ohio depends on its type. A month-to-month tenancy needs at least thirty days’ written notice before the next rental date. A week-to-week tenancy needs only seven days’ notice before the date named in it. A fixed-term lease simply ends on the date it names, since Section 5321.17 sets no notice period for it, unless the lease itself requires notice.^[2]

Other Ohio Forms
Some other essential Ohio templates readily available for download here and that can be modified in our hassle-free document builder.

Ohio Living Will Ohio Last Will Ohio Small Estate Affidavit Ohio Bill of Sale Ohio Power of Attorney Ohio Eviction Notice Ohio Promissory Note Ohio Non-compete Agreement Ohio Prenuptial Agreement Ohio LLC Operating Agreement Ohio Marital Settlement (Divorce) Agreement

General information, not legal or tax advice.

Sources

1. Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 5321.16.
2. Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.17.

Jennifer M. Settles

Author & Attorney

With over 25 years of experience as a business and transactional attorney, Jennifer has mastered the craft of closing highly successful deals for her clients. Through her wide-ranging expertise in commercial contracts, real estate transactions, M&A and corporate law, Jennifer secures results that are second-to-none.