Columbus Council Eyes Lease Exit for Domestic Violence Victims
After a three-hour committee hearing, Councilmember Tiara Ross says draft legislation on penalty-free lease exits is coming.
Columbus City Council is preparing legislation that would let victims of domestic violence break a lease without a penalty. The plan surfaced at an October 14 hearing of the Housing, Homelessness and Building Committee, and the summary filed as PN0403-2026 for the City Bulletin quotes Councilmember Tiara N. Ross: "We will get a draft legislation out soon."
Ross led the session, which ran from 5:12 p.m. to 8:05 p.m. at City Hall, with Councilmembers Barroso de Padilla and Remy also in attendance.
Ross opened by saying the committee wanted to find legislative and policy routes to stronger tenant protections. Presenters from the Columbus Division of Police included Deputy Chief Justin Coleman, Lieutenant Jason Garner, and Detective Laurie Carney. State Rep. Michele Grim, who represents Ohio House District 43, spoke, as did Rena Shak, director of the city's Office of Violence Prevention. Advocates came from LSS CHOICES, The Center for Family Safety and Healing, Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio, and Ohio Women Against Domestic Violence. Six residents gave public testimony, and Lara Baker-Morrish, chief counsel in the City Attorney's office, closed out the presentations.
In her closing remarks, Ross tied safety to housing supply, arguing that the city's ability to protect residents depends on offering more housing options to people leaving abuse. The tool she named is lease rescission, which would let a tenant end a lease early without the usual penalty. She said the city version would mirror work already underway at the state level. The summary does not spell out what proof a tenant would need, how much notice a landlord would get, or when Council might vote.
Nothing changes for renters or landlords yet. A draft ordinance would still have to be introduced and work through Council's committee process before any vote, and we will cover it when it is filed. The full hearing recording is posted online for anyone who wants to hear the testimony.
More Council coverage is in the City section, including the pond safety hearing set for Thursday, October 22. The Downtown page covers City Hall and the surrounding blocks.
