A Wilmington man is facing serious issues with his trailer home, battling against his landlord over severe mold, termite damage, and a rat infestation that have been largely ignored for years.
Robert Jones has made Sunshine Apartments his home for the past 11 years, but he reports that the situation has deteriorated dramatically in recent months. He described alarming structural damage, including collapsing floors caused by missing floor joists and walls that have begun to crack open.
"Now you can see the dirt," Jones lamented. "All of this began happening just in the last few months."
Frustration has built up as Jones waited three long years for his landlord to address a broken water heater. When it was finally fixed, he discovered more troubling issues: extensive termite damage near the appliance, with the structure underneath being virtually non-existent.
"The only support they provided was a pole, which is barely holding anything. If you poke it, it crumbles apart—it's completely consumed by termites," Jones explained.
In a bid to prompt action from his landlord, Jones decided to stop paying rent and instead placed that money into an escrow account—something he's legally allowed to do under Ohio law. This has been his approach for the past three months.
"Interestingly enough, my landlord showed up about two weeks after I did that and made some repairs," Jones recounted. "But just four days later, the ceiling caved in, revealing all the termite damage."
While he now has hot water, the living conditions remain dire; the trailer is overrun with mold that is impacting both his health and that of his dogs. Furthermore, rats are gnawing through the walls, causing damage to his personal belongings.
When we reached out to Adam Tissander, Jones's landlord, he claimed he was unaware of any issues and warned that if a resolution couldn’t be reached, Jones might need to find alternative housing.
Legal expert Nick Dinardo weighed in on the situation, stating that landlords are obligated to uphold basic living standards for their tenants. "This mobile home clearly fails to meet even the minimum standards required," he asserted.
Following our inquiry, Jones reported that his landlord posted a notice of termination of tenancy on his door.
"That’s illegal under Ohio law. Landlords cannot retaliate against tenants who report repair needs," Dinardo emphasized.
Despite Jones's lease indicating he accepted the trailer "as is," Dinardo pointed out that the landlord is still accountable for ensuring that basic living conditions are maintained.
Jones expressed his intention to move out, but financial constraints make it difficult. "I live on a fixed income of $1,087 a month, and the rent for a one-bedroom apartment around here—without pets—averages about $1,200. I simply can’t afford that. I’m worried I might lose my therapy dogs," he shared.
He has been in touch with legal aid for several months and plans to continue placing his rent into escrow until the necessary repairs are completed.
Dinardo noted that tenants have multiple legal avenues when faced with unaddressed repairs. They can petition the court to terminate any existing lease, although Jones is currently on a month-to-month basis without a formal lease.
"A tenant can request the court to compel the landlord to complete repairs. If the landlord fails to comply, they could potentially face contempt of court charges," Dinardo explained.
Another option available to tenants is to use funds from their escrow account to pay for repairs directly, though this is not a requirement for landlords. "It’s an option for those who want to hire a contractor to fix issues like a leaking roof using those escrow funds," he added.
Additionally, tenants can pursue a claim for damages, known as rent abatement. Dinardo clarified, "If there’s significant termite damage or a leaking ceiling in the mobile home, it’s not worth the same amount as what you’re paying in rent."
Regardless of whether tenants choose to vacate or remain, they can request that some or all of their escrowed rent be returned to them to compensate for the diminished value of their home due to the landlord’s failure to conduct repairs.
This complex and troubling story highlights the challenges many tenants face when dealing with neglectful landlords. Have you ever encountered similar issues? We'd love to hear your experiences and thoughts in the comments!
