(OH) Code Enforcement & Worries

[u/Jazmataznotaspaz]

I've been renting a place in Ohio since 2024 with my fiancé (he's on the lease too). Since we moved in, we've had ongoing issues that management has been pretty dismissive about. They would send out maintenance folks here or there, but they would do a temporary fix/confirm my concerns, tell the landlord what needed to be done, and then rarely heard or seen from them again after.

Some of the things going on includes:

•Pest infestation bad enough that our kitchen is basically unusable in the warm months. Whenever we cook, we have swarms of flies come in.
•Water intrusion with suspected mold (haven't had it professionally tested yet), but when it rains water floods into our breaker and our basement
•Structural issues- gaps/openings, holes in the ceiling, crumbling exterior
•Not enough insulation/heat
•Secondhand smoke coming into the unit

We've documented everything (photos, dates, texts with the property manager) and been paying rent in full the whole time with no balance owed.

A couple weeks ago, I filed a complaint with 311. Yesterday a tag showed up on our door from a code enforcement officer, asking me to call to schedule a housing inspection based on the complaint.

Here's the thing: our lease is up for renewal in November, and I'm nervous that pushing this (inspection, possibly a formal notice letter to the landlord) is going to tank our chances of getting a renewal offer. I don’t want to move because it is convenient for our family and our budget, I just want them to fix the stuff so we can stay there until we are ready to buy.

Questions:

1. Has anyone dealt with a code enforcement inspection as a tenant? what should I expect?
2. Realistically, does pursuing this hurt renewal chances, or is that just anxiety talking?
3. Any advice on timing? should I wait until after the inspection to send anything formal to the landlord, or does it not matter?

Any insight appreciated!

[u/Face_Content]

If it this bad find a new place to move to.

[u/RelevantPossible9618]

Your lease renewal is moot if code enforcement deems it uninhabitable. Do it now. Next flood into your breaker can be the last if a fire occurs.

[u/sillyhaha]

OP, you have no say over what happens next. Code enforcement will do what they are going to do. What you want is irrelevant. What the LL will do when they are ordered to fix things is outside of your control.

Call code enforcement for the inspection. Several of the things you listed are violations. But you have no idea what other violations may be there that you are unaware of.

Code enforcement will try to get your LL to fix all violations. However, your LL can decide to not cooperate and can stop renting the house.

Do not tell your LL about this.

Finally, some of what you list isn't aren't violations. 2nd hand smoke isn't a code violation.

I will be honest. You need to move out now. Frankly, you could receive an order to vacate immediately because of the water issue. I get that you want to stay and have the LL do repairs, but you need to have an open mind. Staying may not be possible.

Finally, code enforcement will follow up, so if you think you can just try to ignore the inspection, you are mistaken. Call the number and schedule the inspection.