ORC § 5321.16(C) - Wrongful withholding allows recovery of amount due + equal damages + reasonable attorney fees: Ohio statute explainer

Plain-English explanation of bad faith penalties with actionable next steps.

Reviewed: 2026-03-03

Reviewer: ReclaimDeposit legal research team

Deadline context

30 days

Penalty context

2x damages

Primary statute

ORC § 5321.16 (Landlord-Tenant Law)

How to use this statute in your case

Quick answers to the questions renters usually have before citing this statute in a demand letter or court filing.

This section governs bad faith penalties and should be cited when disputing wrongful withholding under Ohio law.

30 days after termination of rental agreement and delivery of possession (30 days).

Amount wrongfully withheld as statutory damages + reasonable attorney fees.

Turn this citation into an actionable demand and timeline.

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers to the questions renters usually have before citing this statute in a demand letter or court filing.

This section governs bad faith penalties and should be cited when disputing wrongful withholding under Ohio law.

30 days after termination of rental agreement and delivery of possession (30 days).

Amount wrongfully withheld as statutory damages + reasonable attorney fees.