Roof leak- Tenant displaced in Cincinnati, OH

[Craig H.]

I have a friend who is renting a duplex with another buddy of mine in Cincinnati, OH.  The room he is renting had a roof leak and he was displaced from staying in for 29 days.  The landlord was unresponsive at first about the water and damage it caused to the room.  Being a landlord myself I would have jumped on something like this right away.  Also being a landlord I probably should know the answer to this, but I do not.  The water issue has since returned and he is unable to stay in the room and the water damage this time has ruined some belongings of his.  Is there anything he can do as a tenant to get out of this lease?  Should he go ahead and start to escrow his rent?  Any feedback on this issue would be greatly appreciated.