Hello I am the landlord of a single story house. I am leasing my rental property to an individual who claimed they where able to help me fix the property up in exchange for a reduced rent amount. The tenant is late on rent and is failing to obide by some stipulations in lease such as mowing lawn, etc. They desire to make changes to the house instead of making the acutal repairs as agreed. I asked them if they would be willing to agree to cancel the lease. They demand payment in full for their work and services or they will rip all there stuff out. They received a $400 a month discount on rent in exchange for there service so I feel Im getting ripped off. My question is, can I legally evict them for threatening to vandalize the building? I know I may be able to evict for breaking stipulations. Let me know ur thoughts.

By Darren From Ohio

Hello.  Im a landlord of a single family residence in Ohio. 

 I have agreed to rent my residence to a person(s) who claimed they where able to make repairs to the building "in exchange" for a reduced rent in the amount of $400 per month.  Note I said REPAIR, not replace or substitue repairs or shortcuts – repair w/e it is to make the place habitable or useful w/e it may be.

The Tenant(s) claimed they are contractors and have family/friends who are the same and where able to make any and all repairs w/e is needed and have agreed to make these repairs to the building "IN EXCHANGE" for a reduced rent of $400 per month for 1 year.  I have this specifically in a rental lease and they signed and agreed to the terms in the rental lease.

This is the second month into the lease and these tenants are already late on the rent (8 days so far).  Also received letter from Health Dept complaint made about tenant not mowing grass (there responsbility in lease).  I told the tenants that they may REPAIR things but if they are going to make changes to ASK for my approval first.

Recently the heating system needs to be repaired and instead the tenants have told me they wish to install baseboard heating or other heating system.  Due to the electrical capacity of the residence which I just paid to upgrade the building does not have or is may be unable to handle the electrical demand that baseboard heating requires safely.  I contacted the tenants and told them I would not authorize the repairs. I told them the building HAS a heathing system (forced air) and to have it repaired as we agreed in the lease.

The tenants now have become a problem as they are not getting their way and not doing the work in a timely manner or have even moved into the building 100 percent.  It is early Sept and the building still does not have heat.  I asked the tenants if they would consider mutually terminating the rental lease and they said they would if I would repay them for the cost of their material and time.  My concern is frozen water pipes due to no heat as the landlord/property owner in that area is liable for the water bill.  I told the tenants I would not pay them for their costs as I agreed to give them a discount in rent "IN EXCHANGE" for reducing their rent $400 a month.  I told them they are in breach of their rental contract and stipulations in it. 

 The tenants are now threatening to remove ALL the materials and work they did to the building.  I told them this is vandalisim as w/e work they do belongs to the building!!.

My question is, can I legally evict them (state of ohio) for threatening to vandalize the building?   Rent is late and not received yet at the time I posted this column.   What are your thoughts?.

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