Bait and Switch

[churioz]

What do you do when a large townhouse complex in Columbus, Ohio showed
you a unit to rent; told you all the units were the same; couldn't
show you the unit you were suppose to rent because it wasn't ready;
and then when it was ready told you you had to finish all the
paperwork, sign the lease, give the security deposit, pay the first
month rent and then get the keys, only to find when you went into your
unit that it is nothing, I mean nothing, like the nice new remodeled
one they first showed you. Then the unit is in disrepair, A/C doesn't
cool, water pressure is poor, fixtures are loose, doors don't lock,
walls still have holes and nails from prior tenants and finally is
absolutely filthy, including dirty toilets and dirt and hair all over
bathroom floors, etc. I am so angry I don't know what to do first.

[churioz]

These places that show you the model rather than the actual apartment
are a problem. There are only two things you can do, and one of those
is just a caveat for the future.

1) In the future, always insist upon seeing the actual unit you will
be renting. If they won't show it to you for whatever reason, well,
there are a lot of empty unrented apartments out there just waiting
for you to inspect them.

2) Ohio Revised Code Section 5321.04 requires that the landlord put
and keep the rented premises in a fit and habitable condition. R.C.
5321.07 provides the enforcement mechanism for your .04 rights. For a
better understanding of how this all works, go to our website at
http://www.ohiolandlordtenant.com/faq1.html

Hope this is helpful to you.