LC 18 Doesn’t Do Enough to Protect Tenants
The second draft of LC0018 is out. This is one of the bills slated to be taken up by the legislature during the special session on Dec 21.
At 1:00pm on Thurs, Dec 17 the House Interim Committee on Housing, who is stewarding this bill, will meet. Tomorrow morning is the last chance we have to make our questions and concerns heard about this bill before they finalize it for the special session. We have major concerns and would like them addressed during the committee meeting and in the bill.
The Landlord Fund
The bill allocates $150 million dollars for a Landlord Compensation Fund. It will pay out 80% of unpaid rent from April 1, 2020 to date of the application. Landlords are required to forgive the other 20%. The fund gives the decision making power of the decision to landlords, not tenants. The bill does not make clear what protections renters have after the money runs out - which it will.
The Moratorium Extension
The bill DOES NOT extend the moratorium that is now in place. It has significant changes that reduce protections.
First, they have added a “declaration of financial hardship” that tenants must sign and submit under the penalty of perjury to their landlords in order to invoke the protections of the bill.
Second, they have reinstated a number of no-cause evictions that are currently banned including “the demolition or conversion of the dwelling unit, major repairs or renovations when the dwelling unit is or will be unsafe to occupy or the occupancy of your dwelling unit by your landlord, the landlord’s family member or someone who purchases the dwelling unit.”
If you feel outraged and would like to call or write the House Interim Committee on Housing members before 1:00pm on Dec 17th, we have drafted a script that lays out some of the concerns; contacts available below.
If you feel outraged but feel like addressing these concerns to politicians is futile, we understand and hold space for you as well. We will be watching the committee meeting and live-tweeting our reactions (sure to be spicy) tomorrow, and invite you to join us.
You can also testify to the Oregon Legislative Assembly on this bill and others that are being taken up during next week’s special session. Sign up to testify by 1pm tomorrow! Sign-up to testify by phone or video HERE.
However the bill gets finalized, we will be in the courts and in the streets protecting tenants and fighting to keep people from being evicted.
Sample Script:
Dear [committee member],
I am calling because I am concerned that the proposed LC 18 is going to increase harm to tenants. I have some major concerns and questions about this proposal.
The bill allocates $150 million dollars for a Landlord Compensation Fund. This isn't enough to cover half of all the back rent owed in Oregon. What happens when this fund inevitably runs out?
Why is the Landlord allowed to CHOOSE to protect tenants or not? Can the landlord CHOOSE to not apply for the fund despite when one of their tenants sends in a declaration of hardship?
Why is LC 18 forcing tenants to sign a declaration of hardship against the risk of perjury in order to receive protections? This will be weaponized disproportionately against BIPOC and undocumented tenants. Instead, make protections guaranteed for all tenants by removing the declaration.
Why are we allowing landlords new opportunities to evict tenants during a pandemic? Remove the new loopholes that allow landlords to sell tenants units away from tenants, implement repairs that make homes “uninhabitable”, or replace tenants with family members. Remove these loopholes that landlords will easily exploit to evict struggling tenants.
Tenants from across Oregon will be tuning in today to watch the discussion on this proposed bill. We will be listening to hear these concerns addressed and incorporated into the fill draft of the bill.
Contact info for Committee Members
Chair Representative Julie Fahey
Vice-Chair Representative Mark Meek
Vice-ChairRepresentative Jack Zika
Member Representative Alissa Keny-Guyer
Member Representative Pam Marsh
Member Representative Mark Owens
Member Representative Duane Stark
