Housing Legal Resources

What's New? Recent changes in housing law and housing related legal resources.

Rent Increases

  • Month-to-month rental agreements: Rent cannot be increased during the first year after the tenancy begins. At any time after the first year of tenancy, rent can be increased only with a written notice delivered to the tenant at least 90 days prior to the effective date of the rent increase.
  • Fixed-term rental agreements: After the first year of the tenancy, rent can only be increased as specified in the lease, and with at least 90 days’ written notice prior to the effective date of the rent increase. 

State of Oregon - Rent Increase Updates for 2023

  • On September 13, the State of Oregon's Office of Economic Analysis announced the maximum rent increase rate for 2023 to be 14.6%. Beginning January 1, 2023, rent increases going into effect for Oregon residents may not exceed 14.6%. While this applies statewide, housing providers must ensure that they meet any other applicable requirements, whether set by programs or by local jurisdictions, such as the City of Portland relocation ordinance.
  • Current formula that allows rent increases to rise with the cost of living and inflation.

City of Portland - Rent Increase Law

  • In the city of Portland, any rent increase exceeding 9.9%, may result in the property manager owing the tenant a relocation payment. See Relocation Assistance information below.

Mandatory Tenant Relocation Assistance

Renters in Portland who are served a no-cause eviction or encounter any of the triggering events may have the right to be paid relocation assistance from their landlord. Landlords must notify Portland Housing Bureau's Rental Services Office of the payment. For eligible exemptions, see the Administrative Rules.

Events that trigger Relocation Assistance:

Triggering events are, specifically, any of the following:

  • No-cause eviction

  • Notice of non-renewal of a fixed term lease (not becoming month-to-month)

  • Qualified landlord reason for termination

  • Rent increase of 10% or more over a 12-month period

  • Substantial change of lease terms

Portland Housing Bureau – Rental Services Office

The Portland Housing Bureau’s Rental Services Office has a helpline and on-site staff to provide technical assistance and information specific to mandatory renter relocation assistance. You can reach them at 503-823-1303 or rentalservices@portlandoregon.gov; 421 SW 6th Ave.,#500, Portland, OR 97204. Office hours: Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays 9-11am and 1-4pm. 

Are you being evicted?

Information about available resources for tenants facing eviction

If you have eviction papers from the court, contact The Oregon Law Center.

Tenants whose landlord has taken them to eviction court can call the Eviction Defense Project line (888-585-9638) or email the Project (evictiondefense@oregonlawcenter.org) to seek legal help. Tenants should leave a message on the intake line or by emailing with their name, date of birth, and eviction case number.

Free Legal Help For Oregon Renters

Information regarding three legal advocacy organizations providing support to tenants in Mult. County facing eviction. 

No Cause Evictions

Under SB 608, no-cause evictions (aka “no-fault evictions”) are prohibited unless:

  • Termination is in the first year of tenancy;
    • Note: Beginning on July 1, 2021, landlords can use 30-day no-cause notices to evict people within their first year of occupancy. Additionally, from July 1, 2021, to August 31, 2021, landlords may issue 30- day no-cause notices to any tenants who moved in on or after April 1, 2019. This extra time is given to landlords whose first years of occupancy expired during previous moratoria. Renters in the City of Portland must get 90 days’ notice of a no-cause termination and landlords must pay relocation assistance.
  • The basis is one of 4 permitted “landlord-based” reasons; or
    • Note: Landlord-based reasons are 1) demolition or change of use, 2) repairs or renovation, 3) landlord or family-member move-in, or 4) new buyer move-in.
  • The landlord lives on the same property as the tenant and there are 2 or fewer units
  • See information above regarding Mandatory Relocation Assistance

Reasonable Accommodation

Safe, stable housing is something that we all need to thrive. But people with disabilities often face barriers in accessing housing.

One tool that people with disabilities use for lifting these barriers is requesting a reasonable accommodation. These changes in rules, policies, practices, or services ensure that people with disabilities have the same opportunity to use the dwelling as a person without disabilities.

    Portland Landlord Tenant Law 

    Applications & Screening 

    Security Deposits

    Legal Advocacy Organizations

    Oregon Legal Aid

    Oregon Law Center 

    • Oregon Law Center (OLC) provides free legal help to people struggling to make ends meet on matters related to their homes, livelihoods, medical care and physical safety against domestic violence. 
    • Find legal aid centers around the state. 

    The Commons Law

    • Get Affordable Legal Help for Your Family Law or Estate Planning Issue and FREE Legal Help for Tenant Eviction Defense.

    Negative Legal History Services

    Metropolitan Public Defender - Community Law Program

    • Community Law - focuses on barrier reduction work for people involved in, or at risk of involvement in, the criminal justice system. We help undo the damage done by an imbalanced criminal justice system by reducing social stigma, increasing economic and housing opportunities, and stabilizing families. Our model is to partner with government agencies and community based organizations to work together to help participants navigate the legal system and remove barriers.

    • Depending on the Partnership, our Legal Services may include:

      • Barrier Reduction: Expunging Criminal Records, Reducing Felonies to Misdemeanors, Navigating Current Court Requirements, Converting Fines and Fees, Sex Offender Registration Relief, Appealing Designations and Exclusions, Outstanding Warrant and Fines, and more.
      • Civil Legal Services: Public Benefit issues, Family Law, Estate Planning, Landlord Tenant Advocacy, Restraining Order and Stalking Order Advocacy, and more.
      • Immigration: Removal Defense, Adjustment of Status, work authorization, and more.

    • Who we Serve: We serve Oregonians, regardless of immigration status, who are high risk for involvement or have been involved in the criminal justice system. We also partner with SSVF to provide services to Veterans.

      If we can help you, call us at: 503-225-9100, toll free at 888-MPDLAW0 (toll free 888-673-5290).

    Portland Community College - Clear Clinic

    • The CLEAR Clinic is a free legal clinic at PCC Cascade in North Portland, providing the following free legal services to Oregonians:
      • criminal record expungement 
      • eviction expungement 
      • eviction legal defense 
      • DACA renewals 
      • immigration screenings 
      • limited scope deportation defense 
      • legal name & gender-marker changes
    • Description of Services Slides  PCC Clear Clinic Slides (2.06 MB)
    • Walk-In Expungement Clinic Flyer 

    Union Gospel Mission Free Legal Services

    Some crimes can be removed or sealed from a person’s criminal record. This process is called an expungement. For this clinic, after receiving your application submission, an experienced attorney will review your record, and then call you to discuss your options.  They will help you decide if you have past crimes which are eligible for expungement.  Even if you do not yet qualify for expungement, the attorney will talk to you about when you will be eligible, and discuss possible other legal services like:

    • Eviction expungement
    • Reducing felonies to misdemeanors
    • Waiving fines and fees
    • Driver's license reinstatement
    • Warrant lifts

    Fair Housing of Oregon

    The Fair Housing Council of Oregon (FHCO) is a nonprofit civil rights organization driven to eliminate illegal housing discrimination through enforcement and education across Oregon. We promote equal access to housing by providing education, outreach, technical assistance, and enforcement opportunities specifically related to federal, state, and local fair housing laws. These laws protect against illegal housing discrimination based on “protected class status” in any housing transaction and, in fact, any housing situation. Click here to access a broad rage of resource documents made available by the Fair Housing Council of Oregon. Below are a few specific to tenants with disabilities and those receiving rent assistance:

    Oregon State Bar Landlord Tenant Law

    Landlord Tenant Law Information - provides a general overview of the law. 

      Tenant Protections ended September 30th, 2022. 

        Senate Bill 891

        Oregon lawmakers broadened protections for tenants who have applied for emergency rental assistance by passing Senate Bill 891 (“SB 891”) on December 13, 2021. The law previously prevented a landlord from serving a termination notice for nonpayment of rent or engaging in an eviction court case for nonpayment of rent for a specified waiting time if that tenant had applied for emergency rental assistance. SB 891 removed the specified waiting time and prevents landlords from engaging in these actions as long as the application for emergency rental assistance is pending.

        Landlords are still required to attach a notice of the right to avoid termination and eviction for nonpayment of rent if documentation of the application for emergency rental assistance by the tenant is provided to the landlord. The notice has been updated to indicate the tenant keeps these protections as long as the application is still pending.

        These protections were extended through June 30, 2022.

        More eviction moratorium information: 

        Legal Aid Services of Oregon Covid 19 Emergency Protections - video explaining State and local rental protections.

        Community Alliance of Tenants COVID 19 Housing Resources - Additional information available here.

        OregonRentersRights.org 

        Visit The Portland Housing Bureau's Eviction Moratorium webpage for current updates and details regarding tenant protections put in places locally and at the state level in response to the COVID 19 pandemic. 

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