If you are experiencing problems with the condition of your rental property, you must notify your landlord of the problems in writing as soon as possible.  Obtain proof that you delivered this notice and keep a copy of the letter for your records.  In addition, take pictures or video of the problem you are experiencing in case you need to prove that the problem existed.  A landlord is required to conduct the necessary repair within a reasonable time of receiving notice of the problem.  Generally, a “reasonable time” is approximately thirty (30) days unless the issue is urgent. What if my landlord does not fix the problem after I provided written notice? If you have provided written notice and your landlord has not taken any steps to resolve the problem within a reasonable period of time, you have the right to deposit your rent with the Athens County Municipal Court through a process known as “Rent Escrow”. What must I do in order to be eligible to deposit my rent with the court also known as “rent escrow”? You must do the following:

1. Provide written notice to your landlord of the problem;
2. Allow the landlord reasonable time (usually at least 30 days except in case of urgent repairs) to address the problem*;
3. You must be current in your rental payments; and
4. You must pay your rent on or before your rental due date.

*Note: If your rent is due before the expiration of 30 days, you still must pay your rent to your landlord. If you have problems with the conditions of your rental property or need help communicating with your landlord, call our office at 740-594-8093 for help.  

Are you subleasing this summer or finalizing your housing arrangement for next year? Are you concerned about getting your deposit back from your current landlord? The Center for Student Legal Services (CSLS) can help. Not only can CSLS help you get back your deposit, we have free subleasing / rental information, co-tenant agreements and much more to improve your off-campus experience. We also offer full lease reviews with our civil attorney to help you make the best choice for next year, as well as roommate mediation if you’re experiencing a conflict in your house / apartment. Did you waive your $12 per semester legal services fee? No problem! You can re-enroll confidentially by visiting the following site: http://www.studentlegalrights.org/re-enrollment-form/ This small fee provides you with unlimited access to criminal and civil representation to help you protect your money and rights - including identity theft, misdemeanors and consumer fraud. Call us at (740) 594-8093, check out our website http://www.studentlegalrights.org/ or visit our office at 50 South Court Street Suite D (above College Bookstore) and let us protect your rights!    

Many college students assume that they are eligible for access to a public defender if they find themselves in legal trouble. Due to a recent court verdict, however, this will no longer be the case for many OU students in Athens County. Last week, Athens County Municipal Court Judge William A. Grim denied a 21-year-old Ohio University student access to a public defender for criminal charges due to financial ineligibility. The student requested a lawyer from the Ohio Public Defender’s Athens office to defend her on misdemeanor charges. Judge Grim's ruling states that, because the student’s parents pay for her tuition costs and rent, include her in their health-insurance policy and claim her as a dependent on their income taxes, she is a member of their household. The OU student had chosen not to participate in the Center for Student Legal Services (CSLS) plan which is offered to OU students for $12 per semester. The CSLS plan offers unlimited access to legal advice and representation for misdemeanors, landlord/tenant disputes, identity theft, consumer issues, mediation, notary services and more. There are no financial eligibility requirements for participation and payment of the $12 per semester fee can be made via the student’s e-bill, via cash in the CSLS office (50 South Court Street, Athens) or on our website via Paypal (http://www.studentlegalrights.org/re-enrollment-form/). For more information about our services, call our office at (740) 594-8093 or email us at csls@studentlegalrights.org. For more information about the Athens Court verdict, visit the following link: http://woub.org/2013/01/17/judge-denies-public-defender-ou-student                        

The Center for Student Legal Services is a non-profit law office created specifically to educate and protect Ohio University students in matters related to identity theft, landlord / tenant issues, alcohol consumption, contract reviews, traffic violations, misdemeanors, and more. Funded only by a $12 per semester enrollment fee, we offer two full-time attorneys and a trained mediator on an unlimited, year-round basis and we’re asking for your help to support our mission of legal awareness and social responsibility. The Center for Student Legal Services is able to accept donations via PayPal on our homepage and all contributions will be used to support the educational programming, publications, court-room representation and legal advice that we provide to over 3,000 Ohio University students every year. Please donate today and help us create a safer and more responsible community for all Ohio University students!  

In 2007, thousands of college students, including about 100 from Ohio University, were sued by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for illegally downloading music from file sharing internet sites such as LimeWire and Kazaa. Although most law suits were filed in Federal Court in Columbus or Cincinnati, The Center for Student Legal Services provided advice and assisted students in obtaining settlements with the record companies. Now, the Motion Picture Association of America and individual movie studios are...(FULL POST)