The House Human Services and Housing Committee will hold a public hearing on SB 608 on Monday, February 18 at 8 am 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: [email protected]
Committee Vice-Chair – Representative Ronald H. Noble
Republican – District 24 – McMinnville
Email: [email protected]
Committee Vice-Chair – Representative Tawna D. Sanchez
Democrat – District 43 – Portland
Email: [email protected]
Representative Cheri Helt
Republican – District 54 – Bend
Email: [email protected]
Representative Mark Meek
Democrat – District 40 – Clackamas County
Email: [email protected]
Representative Tiffiny Mitchell
Democrat – District 32 – Cannon Beach
Email: [email protected]
Representative Sheri Schouten
Democrat – District 27 – Beaverton
Email: [email protected]
Representative Anna Williams
Democrat – District 52 – Hood River
Email: [email protected]
Representative Jack Zika
Republican – District 53 – Redmond
Email: [email protected]
To submit your testimony or exhibits for the public record (strongly recommended) please send to: [email protected]
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 Claims: If 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.
Credit: HFO Investment Real Estate
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
