Ohio security deposit law
What if my landlord never sent an itemized statement in Ohio?
The short answer
That is a violation in Ohio: Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16 requires an itemized statement of deductions within 30 days, and it strips the landlord's justification for withholding.
In Ohio, the itemized statement is not a courtesy, it is a legal requirement: Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16 obligates the landlord to list every deduction within 30 days of move out.
Skipping it matters: without an itemization, the landlord has no documented justification for keeping your money, and a court has nothing to weigh on their side.
Your move is the same either way: a demand letter that cites the requirement, states that no itemization was received within the 30 days deadline, and demands the full deposit with the statutory exposure of up to 2x the deposit spelled out. Send it certified. A landlord who ignored the paperwork rarely wants to explain that to a judge in Municipal Court — Small Claims.
The Ohio rules at a glance. Governing statute: Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16. Return deadline: 30 days. Statutory damages: up to 2x the deposit for wrongful withholding. Attorney's fees: recoverable in qualifying cases. Court for disputes: Municipal Court — Small Claims, claims up to $6,000.
Looking for the rules beyond this state? My landlord kept my deposit and didn't give me an itemized statement
See what your landlord owes you under Ohio law.
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