I live in Columbus Ohio. My landlord is selling the apartment complex I live in. Of course I had to find out from someone else he was selling it. Because he only told a couple tenants because he didn't want the rest of us to move else where. Is that illegal to not inform the tenants that their apartment is being sold? Also my apartment tested positive for high levels of radon. He refuses to solve the problem. Leally what can I do about these problems?
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Leslie

What you experience is typical. When a place is for sale, we generally don't tell the tenants until right before the closing.

I am not positive about the radon issue as I've not come across it yet - and I don't find it discussed in my Ohio Landlord Tenant Law book... but to be sure, contact the City Code Enforcement people (http://td.ci.columbus.oh.us/ContactUs/index.asp)

As Rick said, there is no reason to let you know, especially if it's a large complex. The only things you need to know is who to pay rent to and who to contact for maintenance.

Yes I will agree, tennants are normally not told (unless there is a large for sale sign in the front) because a full apartment sells easier and for more money than one with empty units.

The new owner will have to honor your current lease or rental agreement and can only make changes when they come up for renewal. So who the owner is not really the issue, unless you rented just because so and so owned it.

I will admit stuipity on the radon issue myself, I can not find any specific codes on it.

Also my apartment tested positive for high levels of radon. He refuses to solve the problem.


Hello leslie:

Who did the testing? Why? If the landlord did, then there must have been some previous problems. Then if he found high levels in your apartment, he'd have to remove it. If he doesn't, call the county health department.

But, I'll bet you did the testing yourself. I did some reading, since you brought it up. Radon is bad stuff. If the landlord isn't doing anything, you can't wait around for the legal process to work. For your own health and safety, move.

Write a letter to the landlord. Send it certified, return receipt requested. Tell your landlord that your home is uninhabitable, and you are moving immediately.

If you didn't move upon finding high levels of radon in your apartment, maybe you didn't believe the test results, or you didn't read the same stuff I did.

excon