Ohio Rev. Code § 5321 § 5321.031
College or university student tenant rental agreements.
Operative Text
A college or university may terminate a rental agreement with a student tenant prior to the expiration of the term of the agreement and require that the student vacate the dwelling unit only when the termination follows a hearing in which it was determined by the college or university that the student violated a term of the rental agreement or violated the college's or university's code of conduct or other policies and procedures. The hearing must be preceded by a written notice to the student, must include a right to be heard, and must otherwise comply with the college's or university's procedures for disciplinary hearings. The written rental agreement must specify the conditions under which the rental agreement may be terminated and specify the college's or university's notice and hearing procedures that will be followed in making a determination under this section.
Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.031 governs rental agreements between colleges or universities and their student tenants. Under this provision, an institution may end a student's housing agreement before its natural expiration only after conducting a formal hearing that finds the student violated either the rental agreement or the institution's code of conduct or related policies. The hearing process must be preceded by written notice, must give the student an opportunity to be heard, and must follow the institution's established disciplinary procedures; additionally, the written rental agreement itself must spell out the conditions for termination and the notice and hearing procedures that apply.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Colleges and universities operating student housing under Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.031 are generally expected to ensure that their written rental agreements clearly state the specific conditions that can lead to early termination and describe the notice and hearing procedures that will govern any such determination. Compliant operators provide students with written notice before any hearing and conduct that hearing in accordance with the institution's existing disciplinary procedures, which must include an opportunity for the student to be heard. Institutions that skip or shortcut these procedural steps risk lacking the legal authority to require a student to vacate before the lease term ends.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.031 gives student tenants meaningful procedural protections before a college or university can terminate their housing early. A student is entitled to written notice before any hearing, a genuine opportunity to present their side, and a process that follows the institution's own disciplinary procedures — and the rental agreement itself must have disclosed these conditions and procedures upfront. Students who believe these procedural requirements were not followed may wish to review their rental agreement, contact their institution's student affairs or ombudsman office, or reach out to a tenant-rights organization or legal aid service for general information about their options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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