If you live in a residential rental unit and are trying to determine if you are eligible for relocation assistance in Portland, Oregon, there is a lot to consider and read up on. Here are some important details to keep in mind.
When are renters eligible for relocation assistance?
The renter must live within Portland city limits and cannot live with the landlord. In addition, the tenancy cannot be week-to-week and doesn’t apply to for-cause terminations.
What incidents prompt relocation assistance?
Due to COVID-19, there are some eviction moratoriums that may stop a landlord from terminating a renter’s contract or lease without a tenant-based cause. However, triggering events that could prompt relocation assistance include:
- No-cause eviction
- Qualified landlord reason for termination
- Notification of non-renewal of a fixed-term lease
- Rent increase of 10% or more over a 12-month period (this includes any rent increase effective between September 16, 2020, and March 31, 2021)
- A substantial change of lease terms
Tenants must receive written notice for a rent increase or termination of the rental agreement at least 90 days before the effective date. The notice must include a description of the tenant’s rights and obligations and the amount of relocation assistance they are eligible for.
Assistance amounts are:
- Studio or single room occupancy: $2,900
- 1 Bedroom: $3,300
- 2 Bedroom: $4,200
- 3 Bedroom or larger: $4,500
Additional Info about Relocation Assistance in Portland, Oregon
If you have been displaced, you may be paid for moving costs rather than paying relocation assistance costs yourself. This could include temporary storage of personal property, packing and unpacking personal property, insurance while the property is in the storage unit or being transferred, in addition to the transfer of phone or utility services and reconnections.
It is important to talk to a professional to learn what specific costs are covered and which are not. You don’t want to get into a situation that puts you out even more financially or have to deal with a landlord at your principal residence who fails to comply with the law. If you have a fixed-term tenancy — or even if you only temporarily rent a space (say for 45 days or so) — you have rights according to city codes and state and federal laws.
The landlord-tenant relationship for a city of Portland renter within a dwelling unit is governed by overlapping laws, with input, jurisdiction, and legislation coming from the Portland City Council, the Portland Housing Bureau, and others.
Be sure to seek out government resources
If you need assistance with packing or moving to a new residential rental in the Portland area, contact our experienced team at Smooth Move People. We have the expertise and efficiency you need to get you moved and settled in no time.
