{"id":375918,"date":"2017-09-25T16:48:55","date_gmt":"2017-09-25T21:48:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/oregon-law\/oregon-tenant-rights-laws.html"},"modified":"2017-09-25T16:53:12","modified_gmt":"2017-09-25T21:53:12","slug":"oregon-tenant-rights-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/oregon-law\/oregon-tenant-rights-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Oregon Tenant Rights Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Oregon Tenant Rights Laws<\/h1>\n
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Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last updated\n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Whether you rent a house in the suburbs or an apartment in the heart of Portland, there’s a good chance you’ll need to become familiar with various landlord-tenant laws<\/a> at some point during your tenancy. In addition to federal and local laws, Oregon has its own set of statutes governing this relationship. Read on to learn more about Oregon tenant rights laws.<\/p>\n

Tenant Rights: From Discrimination to Eviction<\/h2>\n

Oregon law protects you against discrimination<\/a> based on race, religion, sexual orientation, and other protected traits. These laws prohibit a variety of conduct, such as refusing to rent to someone or offering different terms based on their protected characteristic. Additionally, all tenants have the right to live in habitable conditions<\/a>. This imposes on the landlord an obligation to make necessary repairs, maintain heating facilities and running water, and perform other services necessary for health and safety.<\/p>\n

You are entitled to receive a refund of your security deposit<\/a> and a written accounting of claims against the deposit within 31 days after your tenancy terminates and you move out. However, your landlord can’t withhold portions of the deposit for damage or cleaning caused by normal wear and tear.<\/p>\n

Although Oregon’s laws are designed to protect your rights and clarify your responsibilities, tenants are sometimes hesitant to assert those rights. Therefore, it’s also important to know that your landlord may not retaliate against you by raising the rent or evicting you<\/a> simply because you complained about certain conditions.<\/p>\n

Oregon Tenant Rights Laws at a Glance<\/h2>\n

The following chart provides a summary of key Oregon state laws governing the landlord-tenant relationship, including links to important statutes.<\/p>\n\n

Statutes<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Security Deposits<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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  • Limit: No statutory maximum<\/li>\n
  • Must return all or part of the security deposit within 31 days<\/li>\n
  • Part or all may be used only for certain purposes, including:
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    • Damages beyond normal wear and tear<\/li>\n
    • Unpaid rent<\/li>\n
    • Carpet cleaning<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>

Paying Rent<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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  • May not raise rent during lease term (e.g. 1 year lease) unless lease allows; may raise rent upon lease renewal and during monthly tenancy with 30 days’ notice<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>

Living Conditions<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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  • With 24 hours’ advance notice and at reasonable times, landlord may enter unit for certain reasons including:
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    • Inspect premises<\/li>\n
    • To make necessary or agreed repairs<\/li>\n
    • Show unit to prospective tenants or purchasers<\/li>\n
    • In emergency (no notice or consent required)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
    • Landlord must maintain premises in habitable condition: make necessary repairs; maintain waterproofing, plumbing, heating, water, etc.; keep buildings in safe, clean, sanitary condition; etc.<\/li>\n
    • Landlord and tenant may agree to other repair and maintenance terms under certain conditions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>

Discrimination<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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  • No discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, familial status, or source of income<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>

Ending or Renewing a Tenancy<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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  • Notice required to terminate the tenancy:
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    • Fixed-term lease: no notice required<\/li>\n
    • Yearly lease with no fixed end date: 60 days<\/li>\n
    • Monthly tenancy: 30 days (60 days if tenant has lived in unit for over one year)<\/li>\n
    • Week-to-week tenancy: seven days (10 days if tenant has lived in unit for over one year)<\/li>\n
    • Eviction: according to statutes 90.392-394<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
    • Eviction: court order required<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>

Retaliation<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n