A Personal Approach
To Business Law

  1. Home
  2.  → 
  3. Real Estate
  4.  → 2 reasons to evict a tenant in Ohio

2 reasons to evict a tenant in Ohio

On Behalf of | May 12, 2023 | Real Estate |

If you own a rental property, there is a good chance you will come across a tenant with whom you do not get along quite fine. But you cannot simply ask them to leave because of personal differences. If you do, they may sue you for wrongful eviction. And you don’t want that.

However, there are instances when the law permits you to evict a tenant even when the lease agreement is still in force. Here are some of these instances:

1. A violation of the rental agreement

A lease is a binding contract. Both parties (you and your tenant) must honor it. As such, any activity that is prohibited in the lease can justify an eviction. And this can range from keeping unauthorized pets to operating a business on the property. Obviously, not every violation can serve as a reason for an eviction. For instance, you may not evict a tenant for violating a “no pet” policy if the pet in question is a service or emotional support animal. However, operating a nail salon can justify an eviction, especially since this may violate zoning ordinances.

2. Use of the rented property for illegal activities

Talking of what the tenant can (and cannot) do on the property, you certainly do not want any business from a tenant who is using the rented premises for illegal activity. An illegal activity exposes you to all sorts of liability and can impact your property’s actual value as well. So if you suspect that a tenant is using the property to advance a criminal activity like selling drugs, you need to act fast.

Safeguarding your interests

Eviction is every landlord’s worst nightmare. Understanding the legal process of evicting a tenant in Ohio can help you safeguard your rights and interests while parting ways with a tenant.