(A) A landlord who is a party to a rental agreement shall do all of the following:(1) Comply with the requirements of all applicable building, housing, health, and safety codes that materially affect health and safety;(2) Make all repairs and do whatever is reasonably necessary to put and keep the premises in a fit and habitable condition;(3) Keep all common areas of the premises in a safe and sanitary condition;(4) Maintain in good and safe working order and condition all electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating, ventilating, and air conditioning fixtures and appliances, and elevators, supplied or required to be supplied by the landlord;(5) When the landlord is a party to any rental agreements that cover four or more dwelling units in the same structure, provide and maintain appropriate receptacles for the removal of ashes, garbage, rubbish, and other waste incidental to the occupancy of a dwelling unit, and arrange for their removal;(6) Supply running water, reasonable amounts of hot water, and reasonable heat at all times, except where the building that includes the dwelling unit is not required by law to be equipped for that purpose, or the dwelling unit is so constructed that heat or hot water is generated by an installation within the exclusive control of the tenant and supplied by a direct public utility connection;(7) Not abuse the right of access conferred by division (B) of section 5321.05 of the Revised Code;(8) Except in the case of emergency or if it is impracticable to do so, give the tenant reasonable notice of the landlord's intent to enter and enter only at reasonable times.

There is no cookie cutter, one size fits all script to talk to an owner.What you can have is a set elevator pitch or ice breaker and a general guideline by which to go by.That being said, let's talk elevator pitch:First impressions are the most important, they say a woman knows within 30 seconds whether she will give you a chance or not.

Does anyone have any experience installing elevators?

The last time I was Orange County probate court the security deputy greeted me by name and asked if I'd be going to a mutual friends BBQ; the judge greeted me by name in the elevator; and, a probate attorney made a beeline to come over to me to say hello. 

A new elevator is quarter million dollars at least.

This has become a strategy in super lien states, where HOA liens are elevated to 1st position. 

My question to you all is what is a kind and respectful way of asking him what his plans are regarding his (and his family's) tenancy with me should be get ill enough to not climb up stairs anymore (unit is on the third floor, no elevator).

This could also explain the elevated utility bill.

Thanks for moving by the way, I took over your role as big fish there).Now you are in a big area, it means it's time to become a bigger fish to elevate your game.

Glenn - We hired an architect and worked with him to come up with the floor plan and exterior elevations.