Shared Goal

Akron residents have greater access to safe, well-maintained, and affordable housing.

Housing Pillar

Pillar #1: Safe & Quality Housing

The Problem

Today, housing disputes in Akron (like evictions or complaints about needed repairs) can move through several different parts of the system. Some cases go to Akron Municipal Court. Others involve city housing inspectors or separate legal actions.

These issues are often handled quickly and separately from one another. As a result:

• Tenants and landlords may not understand all their options.

• Housing problems like unpaid rent or necessary repairs can get worse before they are addressed.

• Similar cases may be handled differently depending on the day or the circumstances.

Eviction cases are a major part of the housing disputes that come through Akron’s court system. In 2024, more than 3,000 eviction cases were filed in Akron—about 7% of renter households.

Most tenants go to court without legal help. Only about 3% of tenants have an attorney, while about 88% of landlords do.

Akron already has several tools meant to help resolve housing problems. For example:

• The court offers mediation and online dispute resolution, which help tenants and landlords try to reach agreements.

• Ohio law allows a process called rent escrow. This means a tenant can pay rent to the court instead of the landlord if serious repairs are not made after proper notice.

Because housing disputes are often handled in separate parts of the system, some problems move forward without using tools (like mediation or rent escrow) that might help resolve them earlier.

One idea for addressing this is to handle more housing-related cases together in the court system, rather than through several separate paths.

This proposal focuses on how Akron’s court system might do that.

The Community Proposal

When housing disputes end up in court in Akron, these cases are usually scheduled across different court calendars.

This proposal would group those cases into one dedicated track in Akron Municipal Court. This type of court track is called a Housing Docket.

A docket is a set of cases scheduled on a specific court calendar. This means cases would usually be handled by the same judge and court staff who regularly work on housing issues.

This would not create a new court. It would organize cases differently within the existing Akron Municipal Court. The goal is to make the process clearer and more consistent, while creating more chances to solve housing problems before they lead to eviction or unsafe living conditions. 

The idea is that when the same court team regularly handles housing cases, they can better understand common problems and apply tools (like mediation, rent escrow, etc.) more consistently.

For example, if a landlord files an eviction case because rent has not been paid:

1. The case could first go to mediation, where the tenant and landlord try to work out a solution.

2. Court staff could also help connect people to programs such as rental assistance or housing counseling.

3. If the dispute involves repairs, the court could explain the rent escrow process, which allows tenants to deposit rent with the court until repairs are made.

4. If the issue can’t be resolved using these kinds of tools, the judge would then decide the case and rule on the eviction.

The housing docket could also hear housing code cases brought by the city when homes violate safety rules.

Because the same court team would handle many housing cases, the judge and staff could build experience with these issues and apply procedures more consistently.

Certain housing cases would still be handled in other courts. For example, mortgage foreclosure cases are usually heard in Summit County’s Court of Common Pleas, not Akron Municipal Court. In those situations, the housing docket could help connect people to services or coordinate related issues, but it would not decide the foreclosure case itself.

Possible Approaches

If Akron created a housing docket, the court and city leaders would decide exactly how it operates. Possible approaches could include:

Mediation before court hearings
Some eviction cases could start with mediation or online dispute resolution. This process gives tenants and landlords a chance to explore options like payment plans, move-out timelines, or repair agreements before a judge makes a ruling.

Clear steps for repair problems
When tenants report serious housing problems (such as no heat, plumbing leaks, or mold), the court could guide them through the legal process for requesting repairs. This may include the rent escrow process allowed under Ohio law.

Closer coordination with housing inspections
Cases involving housing code violations could also be scheduled in the housing docket. This could help the court track repeat violations and ensure that repair orders are followed.

Connections to housing assistance
Court staff could help connect tenants and landlords with programs such as rental assistance, housing counseling, or relocation support offered by local organizations.

The specific approaches would be decided later if this proposal moves forward.

Benefits & Tradeoffs

Every proposal involves potential benefits and tradeoffs. The points below highlight several that Delegates may want to consider.

Possible Benefits

More consistent court processes
When the same judge and staff regularly handle housing cases, they may build deeper experience with common housing disputes. This can make the process easier to understand for both tenants and landlords and may lead to more consistent handling of similar cases.

More opportunities to resolve problems before eviction
Housing dockets in some cities include mediation, time to apply for rental assistance, and referrals to housing services. Guidance from the Ohio Supreme Court and national court organizations highlights these tools as ways courts can sometimes help resolve disputes before an eviction ruling is issued.

Stronger follow-through on housing safety cases
When housing code violations are reviewed regularly in the same court setting, judges may be better able to track repeat violations and require repairs. This can make it easier for the court to monitor ongoing housing safety issues.

Possible Tradeoffs

Some cases could take longer to resolve
Adding steps like mediation or service referrals could lengthen the timeline for certain cases unless the court sets clear timelines for hearings and decisions.

Stronger enforcement could lead to displacement in some situations
When serious housing code violations are identified, the court may require major repairs or order residents to leave the property until it is fixed. While this can improve safety, it may also require tenants to move if the home can’t be repaired while people are living in it.

Some people may question whether the process feels fair
Housing disputes involve both renters and property owners. If either group believes the system favors the other side, they may lose confidence in the court process. Clear procedures and transparent decision-making would likely be important for maintaining trust.

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