“May you live in interesting times.” My friends, we live in interesting times. Anyone that has lived through the past year and a half understands why that saying is considered a curse. Not wanting to feel left out, the Oregon legislature is doing its part to keep our lives as interesting as possible.
We’re listing the five top worst bills, as well as a few that are actually helpful, in this legislative update.
- In the place of honor as the worst proposed, we have HB 2427. It would require all landlords and management companies to accept a universal application and application fee. It is impossible to say if the bill is likely to pass. To view our full reasons for opposing this measure, view here.
HB 2716: This bill requires management and landlords of manufactured housing to provide on request their rentals agreements, and other documents, in any of the five most commonly spoken languages. The list would be available on the Secretary of State’s website and would be updated once every ten years. This bill looks likely to die.
- SB 282-4: This senate bill would extend the grace period for repayment of past rents until February 28th, 2022. It also extends the requirement for the 10-Day Notice of Non-Payment Notices. It would prohibit housing provides from considering FEDS during the COVID period while screening applicants, as well as other restrictions regarding occupants. This bill has passed the Senate and looks likely to pass the House.
- HB 2484: This bill would require Housing Providers to allow Family Child Care in their properties, a nightmare for landlords. Most insurance policies won’t cover properties with this type of home business, leaving landlords liable for any accidents on the property. Time alone will tell how likely this bill is to pass.
- HB 2736: This bill would require landlords to provide tenants with an informational notice regarding discrimination upon signing the rental agreement, or for existing agreements, by February 1st, 2022. Buildings with more than eleven units would be required to post the notice in a common area.
The Good News
Sometimes, it seems almost in spite of themselves, our legislatures find it in their hearts to try to help.
- SB 330: Creates a tax credit for landlords that are unable to receive unpaid rent through the pandemic period.
- SB 327: Allows landlords to bill residential tenants for utilities based on submeter reading.
Conclusion:
The Oregon legislature continues to pummel landlords, and whenever we balk, they throw us table scraps to keep us happy. But don’t worry, these bills only hurt one party: the tenants.
Landlords in Oregon are experiencing record-high rents and record-high demand. The more landlords are discouraged and leave the market, the higher the value of homes that remain. These bills are minor irritations to educated landlords and property managers. In the long term, it is the tenants that quite literally pay for it. The politicians are hurting the very people they claim to wish to help.
Empire will continue to monitor the legislature going forward. We will send out updates throughout the month if needed. As always, Happy Landlording.