What does the lease or resident handbook say about guests?
What is the pattern of practice with guests?
The basics
The Ohio Landlord Tenant law says that tenants are responsible for the behavior of guests.
A guest is someone who is on the property with the invitation or permission of a tenant.
What's going on?
Tenant is threatened with eviction because of the behavior of a guest
Tenant should immediately respond to the landlord in writing (keep a copy) and outline the steps that the tenant will take to prevent the behavior from occurring again. Steps might include-seeking a protective order, pledging to never invite the guests to the premises again. Changing locks so that guest cannot get access to the property. Response must be credible and specific...not just "it won't happen again."
Tenant is threatened with eviction because of the behavior of someone on the premises without tenant's invitation or permission.
Tenant
should immediately respond to the landlord in writing (keep a copy) with a denial that the person was invited or given permission to be on the premises. Cite witnesses in support of the tenant's denial and indicate additional steps that tenant will take to make clear that the person is unwelcome on the premises.
Guests are treated differently based on being members of a protected class.
Document
the difference in treatment by making tape recordings of encounters
between guests an management and by providing evidence of difference in
treatment of guests based on their demographic status. Example. Young
African American males may be spoken to differently, have restrictions
to the right of access, may be questioned or followed when on the
premises while non AA males don't have these experiences. Just believing that there is discrimination is not enough. It could be the case that all guests are being treated badly regardless of demographic status eg. property manager follows everyone who comes into the building.
Landlord asserts that guest is really a resident and should be on the lease.
Content to be developed
Tenants are required to get prior approval of overnight guests. Guests are not allowed to be in a unit when the tenant is not at home
