SB 608 Rent Control Bill Hearing is Monday 2/4 at 3 pm at the Oregon State Capitol

The Oregon Legislature will have its first committee hearing on Rent Control bill SB 608 on Monday, February 4th beginning at 3 pm in Hearing Room B.

The bill makes major changes to Oregon Landlord/Tenant law -- more than any such changes in the last 20 years.

The implications of this legislation are listed below.


 Rent Control

• The bill limits rent increases in buildings that are more than 15 years old to 7% plus inflation and restricts no cause evictions after a tenant's first 12 months in a rental.
  
• The allowable percentage for rent increases in a given year will be calculated and released by September 30th the previous year by the Oregon Department of Administrative Services. If a landlord raises rent by more than that amount, the landlord will be required to compensate the tenant with the equivalent of 3 months’ rent plus damages.

No-Cause Evictions

• No-cause evictions can still be issued with 30 days’ notice during the first year of tenancy or with 10 days’ notice during a week to week tenancy. After the first year of a fixed-term tenancy, there are specific cases where a landlord can issue a no-cause eviction, as long as the landlord provides 30 days’ notice accompanied by the equivalent of one month’s rent.

The landlord may do this if they:

• Intend to demolish a unit or convert it to a nonresidential use;
• If the unit is unsafe for occupancy;
• If the unit cannot be occupied during necessary repairs or renovations;
• If the landlord or a member of their immediate family plans to live in the unit and no other similar unit is available; or
• If the landlord has received an offer from someone who intends to buy the unit and use it as a primary residence.

There are also provisions for no-cause evictions with a 90-day notice for a fixed-term tenancy, as well as for no-cause evictions pertaining to month-to-month tenancies.

Wrongful Eviction Claims
If a tenant makes a claim of being wrongfully evicted within one year, the landlord must pay three months’ rent plus damages.

After the landlord issues an allowable no-cause eviction, they cannot raise the rent more than 7% plus CPI prior to renting the unit to a new tenant.

Preview and Download a copy of SB 608 Here

What Now?

• Give formal testimony on February 4th beginning at 3 pm in Salem at the Capitol Building in Hearing Room B. Note that this location may change - check in with the information booth in the Capitol rotunda lobby. Parking for your visit to the Capitol can be found by checking this website.

• Provide written testimony on how this bill will affect your business by 3 pm Friday to this email address: shous.exhibits@oregonlegislature.gov and reference SB 608.

Use this tool to locate and email your Oregon Representatives in the House and Senate and send them an email copy of your concerns.