Free Ohio Cash for Keys Agreement Template

Last reviewed September 2026

Written by LawLease Editorial

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Ohio Cash for Keys Agreement

This Cash for Keys Agreement is built with Ohio as the governing state. These are the Ohio landlord-tenant rules that most often bear on it, with the statute for each.

Ohio rules at a glance

Ohio rules for a Cash for Keys Agreement
Security deposit limit	No statutory cap; 5% interest on the portion above the greater of $50 or one month’s rent if the tenant stays 6+ monthsR.C. 5321.16(A)
Deposit return	30 days after termination and delivery of possession, with an itemized written noticeR.C. 5321.16(B)
Small-landlord rent-escrow notice	A landlord with three or fewer dwelling units can opt out of the tenant rent-escrow remedy — but only by giving written notice of that fact in the lease or at move-in (R.C. 5321.07(C)).
Month-to-month termination	30 days before the periodic rental date (7 days for week-to-week)R.C. 5321.17
Eviction notice	3-day notice to leave the premises, with statutory warning languageR.C. 1923.04

Security deposits in Ohio

Ohio places no limit on the amount of a residential security deposit. What the law regulates is interest on large deposits and the return process.

Interest — Any deposit above $50 or one month’s periodic rent, whichever is greater, earns interest on the excess at 5% a year if the tenant stays six months or more; the landlord computes and pays it annually (R.C. 5321.16(A)). A deposit of one month’s rent or less earns no statutory interest.
Permitted deductions — The deposit may be applied to past-due rent and to damages caused by the tenant’s failure to meet their statutory duties or the lease (R.C. 5321.16(B)).
Return — Any deduction must be itemized in a written notice delivered with the amount due within 30 days after the rental agreement ends and possession is delivered (R.C. 5321.16(B)).
Forwarding address — The tenant must give the landlord a forwarding address in writing. A tenant who doesn’t loses the right to the double-damages and attorney’s-fee remedy (R.C. 5321.16(B)).
Wrongful withholding — A landlord who doesn’t comply owes the money wrongfully withheld, plus damages equal to that amount and reasonable attorney’s fees (R.C. 5321.16(C)).

Ending an Ohio tenancy

Notice to end an Ohio periodic tenancy (R.C. 5321.17)
Week-to-week	7 days before the termination date
Month-to-month	30 days before the periodic rental date

Eviction notice — Before filing a forcible entry and detainer action, the landlord must serve a notice to leave the premises at least three days beforehand — by certified mail, in person, or at the tenant’s residence — containing the statutory warning: “You are being asked to leave the premises. If you do not leave, an eviction action may be initiated against you. If you are in doubt regarding your legal rights and obligations as a tenant, it is recommended that you seek legal assistance.” (R.C. 1923.04).
Health and safety breaches — If a tenant fails a statutory duty that materially affects health and safety, the landlord may serve a written notice that the lease will end on a date at least 30 days after receipt unless the tenant remedies it (R.C. 5321.11).
Drug activity — Where the landlord knows or reasonably believes the tenant or household is engaged in drug offenses on the premises, the landlord must terminate on three days’ notice and promptly begin eviction (R.C. 5321.17(C), 5321.04(A)(9)).
Military — Landlords must honor servicemembers’ rights under the federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (R.C. 5321.04(A)(10); 50 U.S.C. §3955).
Note — Ohio has no statute letting a domestic-violence survivor end a lease early; any such right must come from the lease itself or federal housing-program rules.

Required disclosures in Ohio

Ohio does not require state-specific radon, mold, bedbug or flood disclosures for ordinary residential leases.

Owner and agent — Every written lease must state the name and address of the owner and of the owner’s agent, if any; an entity owner must give its principal place of business. If the landlord omits this, the tenant’s notice requirements for repair remedies are waived (R.C. 5321.18).
Lead-based paint — Federal lead warning and known-hazard disclosure for housing built before 1978 (42 U.S.C. §4852d).
Small-landlord rent-escrow notice — A landlord with three or fewer dwelling units can opt out of the tenant rent-escrow remedy — but only by giving written notice of that fact in the lease or at move-in (R.C. 5321.07(C)).

Ohio Cash for Keys Agreement FAQs

How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Ohio?

Ohio has no statutory cap. If the deposit exceeds $50 or one month’s rent (whichever is greater) and the tenant stays six months or more, the landlord must pay 5% annual interest on the excess (R.C. 5321.16(A)).

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Ohio?

30 days after the lease ends and the tenant returns possession, with an itemized written notice of any deductions. A landlord who wrongfully withholds owes the amount plus an equal amount in damages and attorney’s fees — provided the tenant gave a forwarding address in writing (R.C. 5321.16(B)–(C)).

How much notice is required to end a month-to-month lease in Ohio?

At least 30 days before the periodic rental date, from either side. A week-to-week tenancy needs 7 days’ notice (R.C. 5321.17).

What eviction notice is required in Ohio?

A written 3-day notice to leave the premises, served before filing and containing the exact statutory warning language (R.C. 1923.04). For certain health-and-safety breaches, a separate 30-day notice to remedy applies (R.C. 5321.11).

Cash for Keys Agreement in other states

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