Please note: These resources are primarily aimed at low-income tenants. If you are a landlord seeking information, please also see the Oregon State Bar Landlord and Tenant Resources page.
Habitability Standards
Every rented residential unit in Oregon, regardless of how low the rent is, must meet certain standards for safety, health and cleanliness. These are called "habitability" standards.
Inventory and Condition Report
Use this report to record the contents and condition of your place when you move in and before moving out.
Rental Agreements
What you should know about rental agreements, including leases, before you rent a place. (An excerpt from the 2016 Landlord-Tenant Law in Oregon community education booklet.)
Renter's Handbook on Portland's Rental Application and Screening Requirements
Since March 1, 2020, a law in the City of Portland (Fair Access in Renting, or “FAIR ordinance”) requires landlords to follow certain requirements for how they advertise available rental units located in the City of Portland, how they process applications for available rental units, and how they screen applicants. The PDF attached contains information about the City of Portland’s rental application and screening laws.
About Just Cause Eviction and Rent Increase Protections
The Oregon Legislature passed new laws to protect more renters on February 28, 2019. Read more about it here.
Application Fees and Deposits
Information on application fees and security deposits. (An excerpt from the 2016 Landlord-Tenant Law in Oregon community education booklet.)
Can Small Claims Court Help Tenants?
Information about how renters can use small claims court when there are problems with the landlord. (An excerpt from the 2016 Landlord-Tenant Law in Oregon community education booklet.)
Fees and Deposits
Information about deposits and other fees that landlords may charge.
Reasonable Rules in Mobile Home Parks and Floating Home Facilities
A landlord of a mobile home park (also called a manufactured dwelling facility) or floating home facility must provide rules and regulations for the rented space and other facilities. Find out more here.
Rent and Late Fees
Information about rental payments and fees for late rent. (An excerpt from the 2016 community education booklet: Landlord-Tenant Law in Oregon)
Rent Increase Cap and New Eviction Laws
Read about a rent increase cap change for 2023 and new changes in state eviction processes effective October 1, 2022. This is a bilingual resource.
Security Deposit Guide for Oregon Renters
Your landlord must return your security deposit or provide a written accounting of why it was not returned. This guide will help you ensure your landlord returns your security deposit when you move out and provides steps to take if you have a dispute with a prior landlord about a security deposit. January 2018.
Security Deposit Guide for Portland Renters
Your landlord must return your security deposit or provide a written accounting of why it was not returned. This guide will help you ensure your landlord returns your security deposit when you move out and provides steps to take if you have a dispute with a prior landlord about a security deposit. Starting on March 1, 2020, renters in the City of Portland have additional protections under the City’s Rental Housing Security Deposit Ordinance. Read the PDF for more info.
Utility Fees
Information about utility fees or services charges for utilities in your rented home. (An excerpt from the 2016 Landlord-Tenant Law in Oregon community education booklet.)
Getting the Landlord to Make Repairs
How to get your landlord to make needed repairs. (An excerpt from the 2016 community education booklet Landlord-Tenant Law in Oregon.)
Mold Guide for Tenants
How to respond to a mold issue in your rental housing. Fillable PDF with information, forms and letters.
Repair Guide for Tenants
Did something break in your apartment or rental house? Has an appliance not been working properly since you moved in? Are there issues with the plumbing? Have you noticed bugs, mice, or rats? You have the legal right to safe, decent housing.
Retaliation by a Landlord
Information about retaliation when a tenant complains about the need for repairs or asserts other rights. (An excerpt from the 2016 Landlord-Tenant Law in Oregon community education booklet.)
Sample Letters to the Landlord
Samples of letters you can send to your landlord, including: getting repairs done, moving out, and requesting a return of your deposit. (An excerpt from the 2016 Landlord-Tenant Law in Oregon community education booklet.)
Tenants' Rights and Bed Bugs
How to know if you have bed bugs in your rental space and what to do about it.
Entering Your Rented Space
Information about when a landlord can and cannot enter your rental unit. (An excerpt from the Landlord-Tenant Law in Oregon booklet 2016.)
Retaliation by a Landlord
Information about retaliation when a tenant complains about the need for repairs or asserts other rights. (An excerpt from the 2016 Landlord-Tenant Law in Oregon community education booklet.)
Additional Eviction Protections for Subsidized Renters - CARES Act
Renters who live in low-income housing, or who have a voucher that pays some or all of their rent, have additional protections against evictions for nonpayment of rent. For renters with low incomes who get government help paying their rent, landlords have to give at least 30 days’ notice in writing before filing an eviction in court.
Can Small Claims Court Help Tenants?
Information about how renters can use small claims court when there are problems with the landlord. (An excerpt from the 2016 Landlord-Tenant Law in Oregon community education booklet.)
Eviction - Going to Court
Information about what happens when your landlord takes you to court to evict you. (An excerpt from the 2016 Landlord-Tenant Law in Oregon community education booklet.)
Eviction Notices
How a landlord must give a termination (eviction) notice to a tenant and what kinds of notices may be given. (An excerpt from the 2016 Landlord-Tenant Law in Oregon community education booklet.)
How to Use a Form Answer in an Eviction
Examples of possible defenses to use on a form Answer in an eviction. A sample form Answer is included as a PDF attachment. (An excerpt from the 2016 Landlord-Tenant Law in Oregon community education booklet.)
Rent Increase Cap and New Eviction Laws
Read about a rent increase cap change for 2023 and new changes in state eviction processes effective October 1, 2022. This is a bilingual resource.
Residential Eviction Defenses
Information about possible defenses available to tenants in eviction cases.
Residential Eviction Notices
Information about the types of eviction notices that landlords must give tenants.
Residential Evictions
Information about the steps a landlord must take to lawfully evict a tenant.
Rights of a Mobile Home Owner Threatened with Eviction from a Mobile Home Park
People who own their mobile homes and rent only their space in a mobile home park have certain rights when a landlord threatens to evict them. Find out more here.
Some Renter Protections End After June 30, 2022
Since July 1, 2021, renters were able to pause evictions for nonpayment by giving their landlords written proof that they have applied for rent assistance. If the proof was given before the landlord filed a termination case, the landlord was not allowed to file an eviction case until the application no longer pending, or until October 1, 2022. If the proof was given after the landlord filed the eviction case, the court would pause the case until October 1, 2022, or the application was approved or denied. After June 30, 2022, providing proof of an application for rent assistance will not pause eviction proceedings.
What can happen when you don't pay your rent - video resource
Video explaining what can happen when you don't pay your rent and the requirements of a nonpayment of rent termination notice.
Can Small Claims Court Help Tenants?
Information about how renters can use small claims court when there are problems with the landlord. (An excerpt from the 2016 Landlord-Tenant Law in Oregon community education booklet.)
Getting Your Security Deposit Back After You Leave
Find out how to get your refundable security deposit returned to you after you move. (An excerpt from the 2016 Landlord-Tenant Law in Oregon community education booklet.)
Getting Your Things Back After You Move
Information about what happens if you leave things behind after you move. (An excerpt from the 2016 Landlord-Tenant Law in Oregon community education booklet.)
Portland Tenant Relocation Assistance - Information Packet
On February 2, 2017, the City of Portland passed a tenant-protection ordinance that helps renters by making landlords pay moving costs if tenants have to leave. This packet covers an overview of the ordinance and tenant eligibility, sample letters, how to evaluate your claim and the small claims process, and additional resources.
Sample Letters to the Landlord
Samples of letters you can send to your landlord, including: getting repairs done, moving out, and requesting a return of your deposit. (An excerpt from the 2016 Landlord-Tenant Law in Oregon community education booklet.)
When the Tenant Moves Out
Information about giving notice and payment of rent when you move out. (An excerpt from the 2016 Landlord-Tenant Law in Oregon community education booklet.)
Video explaining SB 608 - limits to rent increases and no-cause evictions in Oregon
This video explains Oregon's Senate Bill 608, the law that limits rent increases and no-cause evictions throughout Oregon.
Additional Eviction Protections for Subsidized Renters - CARES Act
Renters who live in low-income housing, or who have a voucher that pays some or all of their rent, have additional protections against evictions for nonpayment of rent. For renters with low incomes who get government help paying their rent, landlords have to give at least 30 days’ notice in writing before filing an eviction in court.
FAQ for Tenants After the Oregon Wildfires
Frequently Asked Questions for Tenants After the Oregon Wildfires.
Housing Rights For Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Survivors
Information regarding housing rights for domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking survivors.
Information for Renters Affected by Oregon Wildfires
If you rented an apartment, a house, or space for a manufactured home and your housing was affected by the wildfire, this information is for you. More information about how to get help is available at wildfire.oregon.gov.
Know Your Rights: Domestic Violence and Assisted Housing
Are you a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking? Do you live in public housing, Section 8 housing, or supportive housing for the elderly or disabled? A law called VAWA, the Violence Against Women Act, may help you.
Know Your Rights: Sexual Harassment and Housing
Have you experienced unwanted touching, unwanted sexual advances, sexual jokes, comments, or gestures in your rental housing? Fair housing laws may help you.
Moving Forward with a Past
A detailed guidebook on the fair housing rights of tenants who have past criminal justice involvement and are applying to housing.
Tenants' Rights in Foreclosure
Information about your rights when the residence you are renting goes into foreclosure.
Challenge to Garnishment Forms
A link to the Oregon Department of Justice page with various garnishment forms, including a Challenge to Garnishment form.
Fair Debt Collection
Information about federal debt collection laws, with a video explaining them.
Filing a Challenge to Garnishment and Exempt Wages, Money, & Property
Instructions on how to use a Challenge to Garnishment and a list of wages, funds, and property that are exempt from collection in Oregon, as of March 2016.
Information for Manufactured Housing Residents and Home Park Owners Affected by Oregon Wildfires
If you are a manufactured homeowner, either on land you own, or in a park, or you rented a manufactured home in a park and your housing was affected by the wildfire, this information is for you. This document also includes information for manufactured home park owners.
Oregon Disaster Legal Services
Resources, information and legal help for Oregon disaster survivors.
Wildfire and Disaster Resources
Resources for those affected by wildfires and other natural disasters in Oregon.
SB 282 and SB 278 Information, Links and Presentations
Find materials to help your clients understand SB 282, the Tenant COVID Protection and Emergency Rent Assistance Grace Period after the Moratorium ends.
Accessibility to Oregon Courts
Information about requesting accommodation for disabilities in order to use the state court system's services or facilities.
How to Serve (Deliver) Legal Papers in Oregon
The person who files a legal matter must make sure that notice of the case is “served” (or delivered to) the other side. This booklet tells you how, where, and when to do it, who can do it, and why.
Small Claims Court
This information page from the Oregon State Bar includes a video that explains the process of taking your case to Small Claims Court.
Small Claims Filing Instructions for Plaintiffs
Small claims are filed to resolve disputes without a lawyer. These instructions tell you how to file a claim if you are the plaintiff (person bringing the case to court).
Expungement of Eviction Records
Beginning May 19th, 2021, the State of Oregon has expanded eligibility to expunge records of some past evictions. Expungement means that the eviction record is erased. The court treats the eviction as if it never happened. When a prospective landlord searches the tenant’s eviction history, the expunged eviction should not show up. When a prospective landlord asks if an applicant has ever been evicted, the applicant can answer “no” if the eviction has been expunged.
Information and Resources about Public Health and Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Information and resources about Coronavirus (COVID-19) for concerned Oregonians.
Discrimination Against Tenants
The law protects tenants from some types of discrimination. Find out more here. (An excerpt from the 2016 Landlord-Tenant Law in Oregon community education booklet.)
Hostile Living Environment
If a neighbor, on-site manager, maintenance worker or someone else on the property has used a racial slur against you, made you feel uncomfortable or unwelcome because of your gender, race, color, national origin, religion, sex, family status, or disability, you can consult this packet for how to respond to discrimination.
New Tenant Screening and Criminal Background Protections for Tenants
A new state law regarding tenant application screenings and protections against discrimination on the basis of certain criminal history is in effect as of January 1st, 2022. Read the PDF for more information.
Reasonable Rules in Mobile Home Parks and Floating Home Facilities
A landlord of a mobile home park (also called a manufactured dwelling facility) or floating home facility must provide rules and regulations for the rented space and other facilities. Find out more here.
Oregon Residential Landlord and Tenant Act
Some basic questions and answers about Oregon's law affecting tenants and landlords. (An excerpt from the 2016 Landlord-Tenant Law in Oregon community education booklet.)
Housing Rights for Manufactured or Mobile Home Residents in Oregon
The booklet covers the rights of individuals who live in manufactured or floating homes which are owned by the resident, but which occupy space rented by the homeowner in a facility designated for that purpose. A “facility” is a place where four or more manufactured homes or floating homes are located.
Reasonable Rules in Mobile Home Parks and Floating Home Facilities
A landlord of a mobile home park (also called a manufactured dwelling facility) or floating home facility must provide rules and regulations for the rented space and other facilities. Find out more here.
Rights of a Mobile Home Owner Threatened with Eviction from a Mobile Home Park
People who own their mobile homes and rent only their space in a mobile home park have certain rights when a landlord threatens to evict them. Find out more here.
Tenant's Rights in Mobile Home, Manufactured Housing, or Houseboat Rentals
An excerpt from the 2016 Landlord-Tenant Law in Oregon community education booklet.
Rights and Duties of Landlords
Overview of the rights and duties of Oregon landlords.
What does expunging my criminal record in Oregon mean, and what do I do next?
Now that your Order to Set Aside ("Expungement Order") has been granted by a judge, what do you do next? The attached PDF will explain what it means to have an Expungement Order and gives you a form to help you update your information in the criminal record clearinghouse database.