City Council approves extension of notice for rent increases, no-cause evictions.
BY JACOB PALMER | DIGITAL NEWS EDITOR
The Portland City Council approved Wednesday requiring 90 days of notice a landlord must give tenants before increasing rent or evicting.
Landlords previously had to give 30 days of notice for rent increases above 5 percent or a no-fault eviction.
“Portland renters need help. They are facing unprecedented rent increases and low vacancies,” said Commissioner Dan Saltzman, who is in charge of the Portland Housing Bureau and introduced the ordinance with the extensions.
Saltzman said state law prohibits the council from doing more to limit no-fault evictions and rent increases, but some groups representing landlords believe the council does not even have this much authority and may challenge the ordinance in court.
(SOURCE: Portland Tribune)
The council also discussed Mayor Charlie Hales’ plan to levy a tax on developers who demolish homes without adding density.
Neighborhood activists who showed up to support the demolition tax were skeptical of that rebate, saying it encourages subdividing lots. And according to council members, the Oregon Homebuilders Association sent a letter saying the demolition tax could face legal challenges.
Portland Mayor Charlie Hales said he will rework the proposal before bringing it up for a vote.
(SOURCE: OPB)
It is unclear how the new measures will affect landlords, who have enjoyed a 14 percent growth in rent in Portland over the last year.
Overall, said Mark Barry, the founder of Barry & Associates, who specializes in apartment appraisals, “It continues to remain a landlord’s market.” He spoke Wednesday at a breakfast held at the Multnomah Athletic Club in conjunction with the report’s release.
Barry said 2015 is shaping up to be the most prosperous year yet for landlords, property managers and real estate brokers.
Portland’s vacancy rate is below 3 percent, and an average unit will stay vacant for 34 days. In close-in east side areas, average units are vacant for less than 12 days.
(SOURCE: OregonLive.com)
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