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House OKs bill to guard renters in foreclosures

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By William Hershey, Staff Writer 11:07 PM Wednesday, May 6, 2009

COLUMBUS — When landlords face foreclosure and lose their properties, renters can be left without a place to stay.

The Ohio House on Wednesday, May 6, passed legislation that would require landlords to give renters written notice of a foreclosure action within 60 days after the owner is notified of the action by the court. It also would require that rental agreements for residential property sold under a foreclosure action be converted to month-to-month agreements.

In addition, it would require landlords to give tenants 21 days notice of a sheriff’s sale of a foreclosed property.

The vote was 53-42.

“Tenants who play by the rules ... should never be penalized because of their landlord’s foreclosure,” Rep. Ted Celeste, D-Grandview Heights, chief co-sponsor, said.

Rep. Mike Foley, D-Cleveland, the other chief co-sponsor, said a third of the foreclosures in Cuyahoga County are on rental properties and he believes the percentage is similar statewide.

Rep. Shannon Jones, R-Springboro, voted against the legislation. She said that there was “much to like about the legislation,” including notification requirements. However, she said it would discourage investors from purchasing foreclosed properties if they didn’t want to become landlords.

The bill now goes to the Senate.

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