Renters

The first major policy change under consideration by Portland’s new City Council attempts to address one of the city’s top issues: Housing costs.

Senate Bill 54 would require property owners of 10 or more multi-family rental units to provide tenants with indoor cooling in at least one room. By 2036, all bedrooms would require cooling devices.

The bill would limit annual price hikes for residential tenants to no more than 7% a year. It next goes to the state Senate.

Oregonians hoping to move into a new rental home can spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on application fees and deposits.

The Evergreen State lacks regulations that exist in other states to prevent excessive fees.

A new Portland State University study found that, out of dozens of renters who were recently evicted in Multnomah County, only a quarter received eviction prevention help through nonprofit or government programs.

The Oregon Department of Energy's Oregon Rental Home Heat Pump program will provide rebates to landlords to install cooling units to their rental properties.

Senate Bill 282 is one of the key renter protection bills this session. It now heads to Gov. Kate Brown for a signature.

A Multnomah County judge on Friday upheld a Portland ordinance requiring landlords to help pay relocation expenses for their tenants in some circumstances.  

Across the state, Oregonians who rent are struggling to find and keep their homes. We hear from voices on all sides of the issue.