Ohio Revised Code Section 5321.16 governs Cleveland security deposits, requiring interest on deposits exceeding fifty dollars held over six months and itemized return within thirty days of tenant move-out.
Cleveland landlords must follow ORC 5321.16, which sets no maximum deposit amount but mandates that any portion of a deposit over fifty dollars accrue 5% simple annual interest once the tenancy passes six months. Within thirty days after the tenant surrenders the unit and provides a forwarding address, the landlord must mail an itemized statement of any deductions plus the remaining balance. Wrongful retention exposes the landlord to double-damages plus attorney fees under ORC 5321.16(C), one of the more pro-tenant remedies in the state.
Failing to itemize or to return within thirty days of receiving the forwarding address triggers double the wrongfully withheld amount plus reasonable attorney fees in Cleveland Housing Court.
Cleveland, OH
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See how Cleveland's security deposit rules rules stack up against other locations.
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