The Oregon governor is working to address the homelessness and housing issues in the state. A new law she recently signed prevents most landlords from raising rent by more than 10%. SB 611 was signed into law last Thursday and passed by the Oregon legislature last month. It is supposed to protect tenants, and prevents landlords from raising rents.
The new cap went into effect on Thursday, July 6 and covers most people who live in properties that have been rentals at least 15 years. “While there are some who only want to fixate on or exploit the challenges facing the city, I’m focused on how we can move forward to solve problems and elevate the people, businesses, and communities that make Portland such a special place,” Kotek said during a meeting with the Portland Business Alliance Thursday.
This is not just for the traditional rentals The new law includes spaces for manufactured homes, RVs, and floating homes in marinas. Prior to passage of SB 611, the rent increase limit for this year was 14.6%. The new 2023 rent limit applies to all rentals that are at least 15 years old, which are most rentals.
There is a loophole. If a rent increase notice is issued for more than 10%, there must be a good reason. The notice must give information about why the landlord qualifies for an exemption to the rent limit law. Not all is covered by the new law. For instance, rent increase notices that were issued before July 6th, 2023 are not covered. Under Oregon’s rent stabilization law, a new limit is set every October. The 2024 limit will be announced later this year.
There is scrambling due to various entities trying to figure out what to do because of the new dispositions and policies around homelessness. Portland’s daytime camping ban, the city’s latest effort to combat the homeless crisis, went into effect Friday. Starting Friday. That has been followed by a lawsuit suing the city about the new camping ban. People will not be able to camp on city property from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., but the mayor’s office says it won’t be enforced right away.
