The RHA is working to get a critical change to Rent Control passed this June: vacant units can reset base rent to market rate.  

While modest in scope, this amendment will have a significant positive impact for both existing tenants and landlords. It removes incentives for landlords to increase rents for existing tenants and allows landlords to reset base rents in vacant units when a tenant has left voluntarily.

An Act to Amend Rent Control and Tenant Protections maintains all tenant protections established in the existing Rent Control and Tenant Protections ordinance.

The Act removes incentives for landlords to increase rents for existing tenants and discourages no-cause evictions by allowing for the establishment of new Base Rents at the time of a new tenancy, but only in instances when the prior tenant moves out voluntarily.

• This will remove the incentive for landlords to increase the rent on existing tenants

• This will restore the incentive for landlords to invest in Portland's aging rental housing

• Nearly all rent control systems allow landlords to return to "market rent" for vacant units. (Most Portland voters actually think this is how it works in Portland - it is not, and that's why this fix needs to be implemented ASAP!)

• It is common-sense that landlords who are forced to take below-market rent for a vacant units will not invest in their property