Oregon House Public Hearing on Rent Control is Monday, Feb. 18th at 1 pm [time changed]

The House Human Services and Housing Committee will hold a public hearing on SB 608 on Monday, February 18 at 1pm in Hearing room 50 at the State Capitol Building. [Note that the Oregon Legislature does not observe Presidents’ Day].

Any previously submitted testimony to the Senate committee can be sent to House Committee members, who are listed below.   

Members of the House Human Services and Housing Committee:
Committee Chair – Representative Alissa Keny-Guyer
Democrat – District 46 – Portland
Email: Rep.AlissaKenyGuyer@oregonlegislature.gov

Committee Vice-Chair – Representative Ronald H. Noble
Republican – District 24 – McMinnville
Email: Rep.RonNoble@oregonlegislature.gov

Committee Vice-Chair – Representative Tawna D. Sanchez
Democrat – District 43 – Portland
Email: Rep.TawnaSanchez@oregonlegislature.gov

Representative Cheri Helt
Republican – District 54 – Bend
Email: Rep.CheriHelt@oregonlegislature.gov

Representative Mark Meek
Democrat – District 40 – Clackamas County
Email: Rep.MarkMeek@oregonlegislature.gov

Representative Tiffiny Mitchell
Democrat – District 32 – Cannon Beach
Email: Rep.TiffinyMitchell@oregonlegislature.gov

Representative Sheri Schouten
Democrat – District 27 – Beaverton
Email: Rep.SheriSchouten@oregonlegislature.gov

Representative Anna Williams
Democrat – District 52 – Hood River
Email: Rep.AnnaWilliams@oregonlegislature.gov

Representative Jack Zika
Republican – District 53 – Redmond
Email: Rep.JackZika@oregonlegislature.gov

To submit your testimony or exhibits for the public record (strongly recommended) please send to: hhs.exhibits@oregonlegislature.gov

The implications of this legislation are:

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 ten 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 ClaimsIf a tenant claims 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 before renting the unit to a new tenant.