Rents continue to rise in Portland, and new rules have precipitated even more raised rents for populations that can least afford the new costs.
"New rules intended to protect renters in Portland's red-hot housing market led to an unprecedented number of rent increases for low-income tenants, according to housing authority officials," report Andrew Theen.
The new rules, approved in October, require 90-day notice for rent increases of higher than 5 percent or for a no-cause eviction. The rules were designed in response to "the city's record-high rent increases and record-low vacancy rates," according to Theen, who also reported on the rule change when it received City Council approval.
Theen cites data from Home Forward, Multnomah County's housing authority, to show that landlords spiked the number of rent increases after the rule took effect on Nov. 13. "Michael Buonocore, Home Forward's executive director, called the flood of requests [for rent increases] unprecedented," writes Theen. The flood of requests means "most Section 8 voucher-holders will see rent increases this year."
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