C.O. landlords concerned by rental rules legislation

Central Oregon landlords weighed in with their concerns Wednesday about a housing bill that cleared the Oregon House Tuesday, which would require a 90-day written notice on increasing rent and tenancy termination.

It’s labeled as an “affordable housing:” measure that will ease the burden on renters — but at what cost?

House Bill 4143 would bar landlords from increasing rent during the first year of month-to-month tenancy. After a year, rent increases would require a 90-day written notice, which is two months longer than what’s currently required under state law.

The bill would also require 90-day notices on tenancy terminations, up from the current 30-day requirement.

Property managers in Central Oregon said they believe it will hurt their business.

Mary Hill owns Rock Solid Property Management in Redmond. Hill oversees nearly 100 properties in Madras, Prineville, Redmond and Bend.

“This is going to hurt the owners,” Hill said.

“I generally give a 60-day notice to all tenants, to make it more fair, because I do have several housing tenants in there. So when I raise rents I give a 60-day notice. But to have to do 90. You have to think that out- when are we going to do the raises?”

Hill said she feels the extended notice requirements will lead to higher rents for tenants, and she’s not alone.

A manager at Eagle Landing Apartments in Bend, Christine Larson, said she feels this will fall onto consumers.

“An inclination of the landlord is going to be recouping the additional cost of the 90 days,” Larson said.

She added that she feels the market is constantly changing: “For instance, an apartment we’re renting, a three bedroom for $1,200 today, we’ll probably adjust it to $1,225 or $1,250 in a bad market.”

State Rep. Knute Buehler, R-Bend, said the housing reforms are intended to provide more certainty for families who rent month-to-month. Buehler, who lives in one of the hardest-hit areas in the state, worked closely on and sponsored the legislation.

“The affordable housing crisis has left many families vulnerable and feeling uncertain,” he said. “These reforms are small but important protections to give families more stability.”

The measure, which passed the House with strong bipartisan support, prohibits rent increases within the first year of tenancy and requires at least 90 day notice of increases after the first year. Currently, Oregon law only requires 30-day notice of rent increases.

“Secure living is key to quality of life and healthy communities,” Buehler said. “This will help prevent landlords from taking advantage of month-to-month renters and a shortage of affordable housing that gives them unbalanced leverage.”

The legislation now heads to the Senate.

Lawmakers included an emergency clause in the bill so that it would go into effect immediately should it be signed into law by the governor.