Oregon set to become first state with rent controls

SALEM, Ore. — Faced with a housing shortage and skyrocketing rents, Oregon is poised to become the first state to impose mandatory rent controls, with a measure establishing tenant protections moving swiftly through the Legislature.

Many residents have testified in favor of the legislation, describing anxiety and hardship as they face higher rents. Some rents have gone up by as much as almost 100 percent — forcing people to move, stay with friends or even live in their vehicles.

The town of Medford recently authorized churches to offer car camping for the homeless on their parking lots. Cities across the West Coast are struggling with soaring housing prices and a growing homelessness problem.

A House committee on Wednesday backed the measure, sending it to the full chamber for a vote as soon as next week.

The Senate passed it last week.

“I look forward to signing the bill,” Gov. Kate Brown, a Democrat, told reporters.

Oregon’s housing shortage is getting worse as people keep moving to the state, lured by its forests, mountains, coastline, relaxed lifestyle and job opportunities. Oregon ranked second to Vermont as the top moving destination in 2018, according to a study by United Van Lines, the largest U.S. householdgoods mover.

Oregon’s measure prohibits landlords from terminating month-tomonth leases without cause after 12 months of occupancy and limits rent hikes to once per year.

Those increases are limited to 7 percent above the annual change in the consumer price index.

Landlords can terminate tenancies only with 90 days’ written notice and payment of one month’s rent, with exemptions in some cases. A landlord can refuse to renew a fixed-term lease if the tenant receives three leaseviolation warnings within 12 months and the landlord gives 90 days’ notice.

New York has a statewide rent-control law, but cities can choose whether to participate.