Many residential tenants worry about their housing situation after receiving a DUI charge. This is a serious issue that affects many aspects of life, including the possibility of eviction.
Understanding the rights of tenants and the responsibilities of landlords in Ohio can help clarify this concern.
Eviction and DUIs
Ohio landlords cannot evict tenants solely because they received a DUI charge. The charge itself does not provide sufficient legal grounds for eviction. Ohio law requires landlords to follow specific legal procedures to evict a tenant, and these procedures typically require more substantial reasons.
Reasonable cause for eviction
In Ohio, laws protect tenants from eviction without cause. These landlord and tenant laws usually require landlords to have legitimate reasons, such as non-payment of rent, damage to the property or violations of the lease agreement. A DUI charge does not fall into these categories unless it directly impacts the tenant’s behavior or actions on the property.
The correlation between DUI charges and eviction
In some cases, a DUI charge might lead to behaviors that could justify eviction. For example, if a tenant drives under the influence and damages the property or endangers other tenants, the landlord might have grounds for eviction. In such cases, the landlord would need to prove that the tenant’s actions violated the lease terms or posed a safety threat.
An Ohio landlord cannot evict a tenant solely based on a DUI charge. The charge itself does not provide legal grounds for eviction. However, behaviors resulting from the charge might justify eviction if they violate the lease terms or pose a safety threat. Ohio tenants should review their lease agreements and understand their rights to better navigate such situations.