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An Eviction Prevention Program in Cincinnati aims to reduce the number of residents required to leave their homes.

 

Eviction prevention

Things you need to know while renting in Cincinnati.

Hamilton County Tenant Help Center 

 

To prevent eviction, Hamilton County will pay up to three months of rent and utilities ($2500 maximum) for households at or below 80 percent of the area’s median income.

1 person      $48,350
2 persons      $55,250
3 persons      $62,150
4 persons      $69,050
5 persons      $75,600
6 persons      $80,100

 

Residents of Hamilton County can apply for assistance.

 

Community Action Agency

513-569-1840 option #4

 

Talbert House

513-338-8596

 

Freestore Foodbank

513-357-4687

 

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Eviction in Cincinnati

 

In 2016, there were 4,174 evictions in Cincinnati. This led the city to be listed as 46 in the country at a 4.7 percent eviction rate. That evens out to 11.44 households being evicted every day. Evictions do more than displace people from their homes. It adds a bad mark to their credit history, making it hard to rent again.

 

In a 2017 national report, CityLab stated that Black households are most likely to be at risk for eviction. In the past year, 11.9 percent of black households faced an eviction threat, compared to 5.4 percent of white households.

 

Even though the report does not include a race/gender breakdown, it says the number of women threatened with evictions is 4.9 percent, while men are slightly lower at 4.5 percent.

 

It is not shocking to know that families are the ones that suffer the most when it comes to evictions. Single parents with children face the highest eviction rates, at 30.1 percent. Married couples with children are close behind, at 27.2 percent.

 


Eviction Help Center

 

During the Coronavirus pandemic, eviction proceedings were put on hold. Hamilton County Clerk of Courts, Aftab Pureval, set up a Tenant Help Center to connect residents and landlords facing eviction with available rental assistance and options. For more information on eviction prevention, visit the Eviction Help Center in Room 115 of the Hamilton County Justice Center or www.cincyhelpcenter.org.

 


Affordable Rent in Cincinnati

 

Cincinnati renters make up 62.7 percent of the city’s population. RentCafe reported that the average rent in Cincinnati is now $996. This is a 3% increase from the previous year. The most affordable neighborhoods in Cincinnati, starting at $619/month and up, are West End, Carthage, and Queensgate.

 

The most expensive neighborhoods, starting at $1600/month, are Pendleton, Over-The-Rhine, Downtown, and Mt. Auburn. The average size for a Cincinnati, OH, apartment is 870 square feet, but this number varies depending on the apartment type.

 

 

Related Article: These Cincinnati job assistance programs may help with the job search.  

 

 


Critical laws in the new Eviction Process in the City of Cincinnati

 

In October 2019, Cincinnati City Council voted almost unanimously to approve legislation to reduce preventable evictions. Out of the eight motions that passed, below is an outline of the critical laws in the new Eviction Process in the City of Cincinnati you need to know to aid with eviction prevention.

 

Landlords are required to register their residential rental properties in Cincinnati.  

Owners of residential rental properties in the city will be required to enter a registry, their contact information, the address for the property, and an emergency contact associated with the building who would be available 24 hours a day.

 

All Residential Rental Registrations shall be accompanied by the applicable fee necessary to recover (the cost and expense of administering the registry, which fee shall not exceed $1.00 per registered rental unit. This will hold all landlords accountable for the housing conditions, especially those living out of town.

 

Landlords with 25 units or more are now required to accept a renter’s deposit in one of three ways.

Residents of Cincinnati have a few more options. On January 15, 2020, a modification was added to Landlord-Tenant Relationships stating that landlords with 25 units or more must now accept a renter’s deposit in one of three ways.

 

1. Rental security insurance that satisfies the following criteria:

  • The insurance provider is an approved carrier licensed by, and in good standing with, the Ohio Department of Insurance.
  • The coverage is effective upon paying the first premium and remains effective for the entire lease term.
  • The coverage provided per claim is no less than the landlord’s required amount for security deposits.
  • Remember, premiums for the insurance policy will not be refunded if/when the renter decides to move.

 

2. Payment of the security deposit over a series of no less than six equal monthly installment payments, which installments shall be due on the same day as the monthly rent payment and which may be paid together with the monthly rent payment in a single transaction, absent separate agreement by the landlord and tenant.

 

3. Payment of a reduced security deposit shall be no more than 50 percent of the monthly rental rate charged for the subject rental unit.

 

There is a downside to one of these modifications. If the renter opts for the insurance policy, premiums for the insurance policy will not be refunded, like most deposits are.

 

Landlords in Cincinnati are required to create a tenant information web page.

Subject to the availability of necessary appropriations, the city manager is authorized to take all the steps required to create a residential tenant information webpage on the city’s website that includes information regarding residential tenants’ rights and responsibilities and relevant federal laws applying to residential tenants. Local resources and referral information for tenants, including information regarding all eviction relief services offered by the City of Cincinnati.

 

The City of Cincinnati will create a rental inspection pilot program

Landlords in Avondale, East Price Hill, and Clifton-University Heights-Fairview would participate in a rental inspection pilot program. These communities were selected due to the higher-than-average concentration of aging rental properties and suspected code violations.

 

The program will require landlords whose buildings are declared a chronic nuisance or buildings that have not met safety and maintenance codes for a year or longer to pay a fee and have their buildings undergo an inspection. Landlords will have six months before properties will be subject to inspection. It has not been specified who exactly created this program.

 

Landlords are required to adhere to unit entry restrictions

Unless it is an emergency, a landlord must give a 24-hour notice before entering a tenant’s unit. If they do not, landlord penalties include a fine of up to $1,000 and termination of the rental agreement. Proper City officials are authorized to do all things necessary and proper to carry out these terms.

 

The city of Cincinnati imposes a limit on late fees for residential rental properties.

If the rental agreement includes a provision that authorizes the landlord to assess the tenant a fee for past due payment of the monthly rent, the total amount of that past due payment fee for any month may not exceed $50 or 5% of the monthly contract rent whichever amount is more significant.

 

The city of Cincinnati requires landlords to accept rent during eviction notices.

If renters can pay their due rent within the three days of notice of eviction, the landlord will have to accept the rent payment and cannot evict the tenant or sue them for eviction.

 

 

Related Article: These Cincinnati Veteran programs serve those who served us.

 

 

In 2023, Cincinnati City Council passed a new ordinance affirming the rights and protections afforded to residential tenants, including their rights to be free from unlawful practices and to secure damages from landlords engaged in unlawful eviction practices.

 


St. Vincent de Paul Eviction Prevention

 

In January of this year, City Council provided a one-time allotment of $227,000 for eviction prevention. After that, Mayor John Cranley made the program permanent for the 2020 Budget, which began on July 1, 2019. He also pledged to put $250,000 a year into the program. St.  Vincent de Paul runs this program.

 

An Eviction Prevention Program in Cincinnati aims to reduce the number of residents required to leave their homes.

To be qualified to receive assistance, one must:

  • Live within the City of Cincinnati limits.
  • Income at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
  • Have been served a formal notice to leave for failure to pay rent

 

Statistics show that 540 people have applied for the program from July through September. That is about 97 households. The average amount of assistance was $639 per household, totaling about $62,000. For more information or assistance, please call 513-562-8842 ext. 771.

 

 

Related Article: Cincinnati cannot discriminate against natural hair.  

 

 


Tenant and landlord training programs in Cincinnati

 

The City of Cincinnati also has the below programs as an introduction to how to be good landlords and good tenants.

 

Tenant Training Program

The City of Cincinnati Department of Buildings and the Cincinnati Law Department offers Cincinnati’s Tenant Training Program. This FREE training was created to provide critical information regarding tenant rights and responsibilities to those who may rent or are currently renting a property in the City of Cincinnati. Fill out the registration online.
Tenant Training Program Registration  

 

Landlord Education Program

The Landlord Education Program is a nationally recognized program offered by the City of Cincinnati Department of Buildings and Inspections in partnership with the Cincinnati Police Department, Cincinnati Fire Department, and the Cincinnati Law Department. This FREE training was created to help guide rental property owners and managers on better maintaining their property to attract quality tenants and keep illegal activity out of their units.
Landlord Education Program Registration

 

 

Related Article: Do you need legal assistance as a renter or a landlord?

 

 

 

Written by: Crystal Kendrick

 

The Voice of Black Cincinnati is a media company designed to educate, recognize, and create opportunities for African Americans. Want to find local news, events, job posting, scholarships, and a database of local Black-owned businesses? Visit our homepage, explore other articles, subscribe to our newsletter, like our Facebook page, join our Facebook group, and text VOBC to 513-270-3880.

 

Eviction Prevention Images provided by © [Damir] /Adobe Stock, © [Monkey Business] /Adobe Stock

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Written by Crystal Kendrick

Publisher, The Voice of Black Cincinnati