Fair Housing

Houses and apartments must meet certain safety building safety codes. When a complaint is made about an unsafe home or other building, the City’s Property Maintenance Inspector will investigate the issue, write a report, and advise the owner which repairs are needed. The City may take legal action against an owner willfully choosing to ignore an order to make a required repair; however, this process often takes time and does not ensure repairs will be made. For Property Maintenance concerns contact the Building Standard Division's Property Code Enforcement, where complaints can be made online. (Additionally, complaints are taken by phone at 330.263.5241).

At the same time, tenants with concerns about property maintenance should also contact the Fair Housing Hotline, as there may be additional measures tenants may take to protect themselves, including escrowing rents until repairs are made.

Please note, a tenant withholding rent while waiting for a landlord to make a repair risks facing an eviction action and may lose certain important rights. Instead, Wooster residents have the right to place their rent with the Wayne County Clerk of Courts, but only after first making a request for repairs in writing and providing the landlord with a reasonable time to make the repairs, usually thirty-days. Please reference the Tenant's Guide to Rent Escrow here (Thank you to the Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati).

On occasion, a tenant will report that a landlord is not fulfilling a lease obligation. When specific legal questions arise, such as questions about a lease or a civil dispute, the City of Wooster’s Fair Housing Program will recommend that individuals speak with an attorney. The City of Wooster Fair Housing Program is not able to provide legal advice.

The Program also recommends that tenants and landlords alike review Ohio Revised Code Chapter 5321, which governs Landlord-Tenant law, as remedies are afforded to tenants when landlords act unlawfully, and vice versa.

A great resource available to learn move about tenant rights is the COHHIO Tenant Rent Information Line: 888.485.7999. Callers will be asked to leave a message and will have an opportunity to speak with an expert on Ohio Landlord-Tenant Law. COHHIO is a not-for-profit agency that receives State tax dollars to provide critical information to residents in need.

For those needing legal assistance and unable to afford an attorney, Community Legal Aid, an Ohio non-profit law firm, may be able to assist low-income individuals and families with their civil needs throughout Wayne and surrounding counties. The firm’s website offers an exceptional Self-Help Library addressing common housing issues. 

For low-income residents in need of legal advice or assistance contact the Community Legal Aid, Legal HelpLine or submit an online application via the link below.

The Wooster Fair Housing Program is available during normal business hours to answer questions about Fair Housing and also Landlord-Tenant issues for City of Wooster residents. Please contact Fair Housing Office, managed by our partners and fair housing experts, Community Action Wayne/Medina (Contact: Zhila Pezeshkpoor) at 330.263.5200 Ext. 300. 

We will document your complaint and provide you with resources that may be able to assist you. We will help you to get to the right place. Or if calling concerning a complaint outside of the City of Wooster, please contact the Wayne County Fair Housing Program.

The City of Wooster is dedicated to ensuring the right to equal housing opportunities for the community. Complaints are analyzed annually to identify impediments to fair housing. The City of Wooster's Fair Housing Office is also available at:

Community Action Wayne/Medina
905 Pittsburgh Avenue
Wooster, Ohio 44691

Information is also available at the City of Wooster, 538 N. Market St., Wooster, Ohio 44691, including support for property maintenance needs and concerns.

As with many other communities, Wooster continually analyses trends in Fair Housing to help ensure equal access to housing in our community. Every five years, the City performs a comprehensive Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice, or simply, "AI". The City’s Fair Housing Program is an essential part of its Community Development Block Grant efforts, serving to protect the public from illegal housing discrimination. This is defined as the denial of the equal opportunity to rent, purchase, finance, or insure a place of residence due to an individual's race, color, religion, national origin, gender, familial status, disability, ancestry, or military status. Fair housing is a basic consumer protection for individuals engaged in the housing market. It is also essential to the foundation of healthy economic and community development for the community as a whole, ensuring reliability and access to housing for all. The most recent analysis was finalized August 30, 2024:

2024 Wooster Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice

This report is reviewed annually with the City's most recent compliant and trend data. Previous studies, including the 2019 AI and a regional 2016 AI are also available.

The City of Wooster hosts at least five educational training courses annually, including public presentations at our City Council meetings as well as at the Wayne County Public Library. Additionally, our staff is happy to meet with Wooster agencies and social service organizations upon request for on-site for Fair Housing Trainings or informational sessions.

A public service through the State of Ohio, the Ohio Housing Locator helps individuals and families search for affordable and accessible rental housing, connect to housing resources, and get information on rental assistance, housing accessibility, and homebuying.

Ohio Housing Locator