Ohio House Bill 855 enacts the Safe Homes Act, allowing tenants facing domestic violence or specific crimes to break leases and providing landlord tax credits

Original title: Enact the Ohio Safe Homes Act

Last action · May 13, 2026: Referred to JudiciarySponsors: Michele Grim and 20 others

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What This Bill Would Do

Ohio House Bill 855 permits residential tenants who are victims of domestic violence, rape, sexual offenses, or related crimes to terminate their rental agreements early without penalty upon providing written notice and documentation. The measure establishes a nonrefundable state income tax credit for landlords whose qualifying tenants terminate leases, and prohibits landlords from retaliating against or disclosing the confidential status of these tenants.

Why it matters

Residential tenants who experience domestic violence or sexual offenses gain a legal right to vacate rental properties early without facing traditional lease-breaking penalties or eviction actions, while landlords are offered an income tax credit capped at $2,000 or one month's rent for affected terminations.

Background

Ohio House Bill 855 was introduced in the 136th General Assembly as the Ohio Safe Homes Act to address housing security for victims of domestic violence and sexual crimes. context

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Residential tenants

Tenants gain the legal right to terminate rental agreements early and request lock replacements without incurring penalties if they are victims of specified crimes.

Directly affected

Landlords

Landlords must comply with new rules regarding early lease terminations, lock installations within 24 hours, and confidentiality mandates, and become eligible for a new income tax credit.

Directly affected

Co-tenants

Co-tenants sharing a lease with a protected tenant retain lease responsibilities but are granted options to terminate simultaneously, assume the lease, or procure a replacement tenant.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What documentation does a tenant need to terminate a lease early under this act?

The tenant must provide a written notice of termination with a vacate date no later than thirty days away, along with either a certified copy of a or a written record of a report signed by a qualified third party (such as a law enforcement officer or ).

Are landlords allowed to charge fees when a tenant breaks a lease due to domestic violence?

No. Landlords may not pursue eviction actions for early termination, charge early termination fees, or withhold security deposits outside of standard statutory rules.

How much is the tax credit available to landlords?

Landlords can claim a nonrefundable income tax credit equal to the lesser of $2,000 or one month's rent for each rental agreement terminated under the act during the taxable year.

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Where This Stands

Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Procedural history

2 actions

May 13, 2026HouseCommittee
Referred to Judiciary
May 12, 2026HouseIntroduced
Introduced

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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