Better Said: Tenant Request Tool - How Ohio State Students are Using AI to Bridge the Tenant Communication Gap
For many tenants in Ohio, the barrier to a safe home is not just a leaky pipe or a noisy neighbor. Sometimes the hardest part is knowing how to clearly ask for help.
On March 25, 2026, a new legal technology tool will be launched to help solve that problem.
Better Said: Tenant Request Tool was developed by law and computer science students in the JusticeTech Program at The Ohio State University’s Moritz College of Law, with funding support from the Good to Great initiative. Created as part of the JusticeTech course, the tool helps tenants communicate more effectively with landlords and resolve issues before they escalate into courtroom disputes. Better Said demonstrates how JusticeTech supports The Ohio State University’s broader AI Fluency goals by equipping future attorneys and IT professionals with technological and cross-functional skills.
The project began with a simple observation: tenants often feel overwhelmed when communicating with landlords, especially during stressful situations like urgent repairs. Messages can become either too informal to be taken seriously or too emotional to move the conversation forward.
Working with community partners, students set out to create a tool that helps tenants express their concerns clearly and professionally.
Carlie J. Boos, Executive Director of the Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio, partnered with the JusticeTech team to address this communication gap. Boos worked closely with students throughout the semester, helping them understand common tenant challenges, refine the tool’s design, and identify potential legal risks.
Carlie J. BoosI was so impressed watching the students braid together legal complexities and tech innovations. It was a perfect example of how working outside our silos can create something really powerful.
The Better Said tool allows users to describe their housing issues in their own words. The system then transforms that description into a clear, professional letter that focuses on the facts and the requested solution.
Once the message is finalized, the system generates a formatted PDF that tenants can download or send via certified mail. Creating a written record of communication is often critical in housing disputes. If a conflict escalates, these letters can serve as documentation of the tenant’s efforts to resolve the issue.
To power this process, the student development team designed the system using artificial intelligence technology known as a Large Language Model (LLM). Students developed a specialized framework involving prompt engineering to guide the LLM. The system was programmed to intake often frustrated descriptions of housing issues and convert them into professional, fact-based communication suitable for landlord requests.
To ensure the longevity of the Better Said: Tenant Request Tool, the development team implemented professional software engineering practices that allow the platform to serve Ohio communities with minimal maintenance. An open-source repository with Continuous Integration (CI) pipelines support sustainability, quality, and security.
The student team also identified potential legal concerns, reviewed the structure and tone of the generated letters, and designed safeguards to ensure the tool provides helpful information while avoiding the unauthorized practice of law.
The tool will be hosted by JusticeMobile, a nonprofit organization that provides mobile legal clinics and legal resources to underserved communities across Ohio. Beginning March 25, 2026, the Better Said: Tenant Request Tool will be publicly accessible through JusticeMobile (www.justicemobile.org) and Rentful 614 (www.rentful614.com), with its open‑source code available for use at https://github.com/capstone-au2025/project.
Mindy Yocum, founder of JusticeMobile and staff attorney for the JusticeTech program, sees the tool as an important early intervention resource.
“Many of the people that I meet with have difficulty communicating with their landlords.” Yocum said. “If tenants can clearly explain their problems, many conflicts can be resolved long before they reach the courthouse.”
Professor Amy Schmitz, Director of the JusticeTech Program, emphasizes that the project reflects a broader movement in which legal technology can play an important role in conflict prevention and legal empowerment.
“Tools like Better Said empower individuals to advocate for themselves,” Schmitz said. “When technology fosters improved communication, we can prevent disputes, reduce strain on the courts, and help families remain securely housed.”
The JusticeTech Program supports innovative interdisciplinary programs across the university. The grant funded program helps bring together law, technology, and community partners to explore new ways of addressing access-to-justice challenges.