A landscape photograph of exterior houses in a vanishing point perspective.

Housing

Established to ensure the safety, security, and proper upkeep of neighborhoods. Owner-occupied homes are inspected through an exterior maintenance program. Rental properties require annual registration and inspections every three years. Vacant properties require annual registration and an inspection prior to sale.

Forms
Click here to access applications & permits

Hours
Monday-Thursday | 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Friday | 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Location
South Euclid City Hall
1349 South Green Road
South Euclid, Ohio 44121

Housing Manager
TJ Murray
tjmurray@seuclid.com
216-691-4289

Housing Programs Coordinator
Cherie Baldyga
housingprograms@seuclid.com
216-691-4206

Housing Inspector
Eric Lamp
elamp@seuclid.com
216-691-4272

Housing Inspector
Anthony Morales-Figueroa
amorales-figueroa@seuclid.com
216-691-4235

Housing Inspector
Willie Sumlin
wsumlin@seuclid.com
216-848-0618

Housing Inspector
Andre Westfield
awestfield@seuclid.com
216-691-4219

Online Registration

This online portal provides access to services for registering single and multi-dwelling properties.

Rental Registration

Click here to access applications & permits.

All rental properties in South Euclid are required to be registered annually pursuant to Chapter 1409 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of South Euclid. Failure to complete rental registration entirely and the inclusion of all required documents and fees will result in the registration materials being returned.

The annual registration cost for rental properties is $200.00 for a single family home, and $150 per each additional unit within a single structure (i.e. two family home = $350.00, three family home = $500.00), up to a maximum of $3,000.00. Any registration packets postmarked or received after the deadline date will be subject to a late fee of $100.00 per unit. Missed rental inspections will be subject to a $25 rescheduling fee.

The occupancy of any dwelling unit shall be limited to one, and only one family. No more than three unrelated people can occupy one dwelling, in accordance with Section 1405.02 of the Codified Ordinances of South Euclid.

Units currently between tenants or vacant with the intent to rent should still be registered for the year. Properties currently vacant with the intent to sell are required to be registered as vacant, and will require a building inspection before sale.

Any rental property that is occupied prior to registration will be subject to a $100 undisclosed rental fee per unit. The Housing Department works closely with other governmental organizations and the South Euclid-Lyndhurst schools to ensure that all rental properties are brought into compliance. Failure to comply with the rental registration process, applicable fees, and inspections may result in court action and the revocation of occupancy.

Tenant Rights

Tenants have many rights under the Ohio Landlord Tenant Law. As a tenant it pays to understand your rights and responsibilities. The City of South Euclid requires landlords to register all rental properties annually and to have the rental unit inspected every three years inside and out.

Your landlord has an obligation to comply with all applicable building, housing, and health and safety codes; repair and keep the premises in fit and habitable condition; maintain safe and sanitary conditions; and provide running water, adequate amounts of hot water, and heat at all times.

When repairs are not made, the city can take your landlord or the property manager to court to force them to make repairs, but sometimes there are problems that arise between inspections that the city may not be aware of. You can call the Housing Department to take a look at the problem and issue a citation, and the Ohio Landlord Tenant Law also gives you other rights. One of those is placing your rent in escrow with the court until repairs are made. If you require more information or to seek legal advice, contact The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland.

Putting your rent in escrow means that instead of paying your rent to the landlord, you can pay it to the South Euclid Municipal Court instead. The court will hold the money until repairs are made. Once the unit is properly repaired, the funds will be released to the landlord. It sounds simple enough, but there are steps that must be followed:

  • You must be current with your rent payments.
  • You must give your landlord notice in writing of your grievance 30 days before applying to place your rent in escrow. This is a detailed letter (view and download sample letter below) letting your landlord know about all of the repairs that need to be made. Photos and other documentation (such as a city violation notice) are helpful to include. You will need to hand this letter to your landlord or send it via certified mail. Keep a copy of this letter and the extra documentation as the court will need it. It is also helpful to provide a copy of your lease if you have one.
  • Obtain an Application by Tenant to Deposit Rent from the South Euclid Municipal Court.
  • Once the court accepts your application, you will need to pay your rent to the South Euclid Municipal Court every month on time until the case is completed. The Court will provide you with a receipt.
  • When repairs are completed, your landlord can petition the court to obtain the rent monies being held less a 1% administrative fee retained by the court.
Vacant Building Registration

Click here to access applications & permits.

In March 2010, the City of South Euclid passed ordinance 11-10, “Registration of Vacant Buildings and Certificates of Occupancy for Vacant Buildings.” The ordinance requires the owner, lessee, or party in control of a vacant property to take the following actions. Failure to do so may result in nuisance abatement action being taken against the property or daily fines of up to $1,000 per day that may result in liens being filed against the property.

Registration of vacant buildings is required at the time of vacancy. Forms are available on the website or from the Housing Department. You must complete the form and pay the required $200 registration fee annually as long as the structure remains vacant.

Before selling, transferring, or conveying any interest in a vacant building, you are required to contact the Building and Housing Department to arrange an interior and exterior inspection of the property. The Certificate of Inspection is valid for one year and for one transfer of the property only.

If violations are not corrected prior to the transfer of the property, the party purchasing the property must complete and submit an Assumption of Violations form to the Housing Department, and an account must be established by a party to the transfer with the title agent handling closing to cover 100% of the city-established escrow hold amount. The escrow amount will be established by the Building Commissioner based on a schedule of fees for “Class A” violations.

The escrow hold requirement for vacant properties is not meant to be indicative of the total cost of completing violations. It serves as the city’s assurance that all violations will be completed in a timely and workmanlike manner. Any party purchasing a vacant property should conduct the appropriate due diligence to determine the true cost of bringing the property into compliance.

Correction of all violations by parties completing the Assumption of Violations form must be completed, and a Certificate of Compliance obtained, within six months of the date of title transfer. Failure to adhere to this compliance window will result in court action.

Before any vacant building can be occupied, a Certificate of Compliance must be obtained. Once all violations have been found to be corrected by the Building and Housing Department, a certificate of compliance obtained. The fee for the Certificate of Compliance is $200. Escrow funds are not authorized for release until the Certificate of Compliance has been obtained. Failure to obtain a Certificate of Compliance prior to any person occupying the home will result in court action.

Quick Links

Resources

Cuyahoga County funds the four United States Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) approved housing counseling agencies below to work with residents to prepare them for home ownership, to help with financial capacity building and credit repair, and to counsel those dealing with mortgage foreclosure or property tax delinquency. Many also provide free tax preparation assistance and home repair assistance. Services are provided to residents free of charge.

CHN Housing Partners
Community Housing Solutions
ESOP
Home Repair Resource Center

Do you need to make interior or exterior repairs to your home this year? South Euclid residents are eligible for two low interest home repair loans. Residents are encouraged to explore these two programs and see which one may fit their needs.

Heritage Home Program
HELP Loan

 

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