Source: http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/tenant-defenses-evictions-oregon.html
Timestamp: 2017-05-27 13:48:32
Document Index: 460301823

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 90', '§ 90', '§ 90', '§ 90', '§ 90', '§ 659']

Tenant Defenses to Evictions in Oregon | Nolo.com
Tenant Defenses to Evictions in Oregon
Learn more about renter's rights to fight an eviction in Oregon.
In Oregon, a landlord can evict a tenant for not paying rent or for violating the lease or rental agreement. When faced with an eviction for one of these reasons, a tenant may be able to use at least one legal defense to challenge the eviction. This article will explore some of the defenses available to tenants in Oregon
If the tenant has not moved out of the rental unit or fixed the violation identified in the notice, then the landlord can file a complaint with the court to begin the eviction lawsuit, or forcible entry and detainer suit. The tenant will receive a copy of the complaint and summons from the court. The summons will have a date and time on it for both the landlord and the tenant to appear in court. This first court visit is called the "first appearance." If the tenant is going to challenge the eviction, the tenant must attend the first appearance. If the tenant does not attend the first appearance, the judge will likely make a final ruling in favor of the landlord, and the tenant will be evicted from the rental unit.
Defenses to an Eviction in Oregon
A tenant facing an eviction in Oregon may have at least one legal defense available to challenge the eviction.
Landlord Evicted the Tenant Using "Self-Help" Procedures
A landlord cannot evict a tenant using "self-help" procedures, such as changing the locks on the door to the rental unit or shutting off utilities. If a landlord tries to evict a tenant using unlawful means, the tenant can recover damages from the landlord. The only way a landlord can legally evict a tenant in Oregon is by obtaining judgment from the court (see Ore. Rev. Stat. § 90.375). The Nolo article Illegal Eviction Procedures in Oregon has more information on "self-help" evictions.
Landlord Violated Violated Eviction Procedures in Other Ways
When evicting a tenant, a landlord must carefully follow all the rules and procedures outlined in the Oregon Revised Statutes. If the landlord does not follow all the procedures, the tenant may be able to stop the eviction lawsuit and make the landlord start the process over from the beginning. For example, a landlord cannot file a complaint with the court without first giving notice to the tenant. The notice required depends on the reason the landlord is attempting to evict the tenant. If the landlord does not provide notice to the tenant before filing the complaint, the tenant may be able to use the lack of notice as a defense to the eviction lawsuit. Keep in mind that this defense will not stop a justified eviction. The landlord will still be able to bring the eviction lawsuit after fixing any deficiencies. This option will merely give the tenant more time to remain in the rental unit.
A tenant who is being evicted for not paying rent may have at least one defense available to fight the eviction.
Rent Has Been Paid in Full
A tenant who receives a three-day or six-day notice for not paying rent can stop the eviction if the tenant pays the rent within that time period. If the tenant pays the rent within the time period, then the landlord cannot proceed with the eviction. If the landlord files the eviction lawsuit anyway, the tenant can use evidence of the paid rent as a defense against the eviction (see Ore. Rev. Stat. § § 90.394(3) and (4)).
Landlord Did Not Maintain Rental Unit
In Oregon, a landlord must maintain a rental unit in a habitable condition. A rental unit is considered uninhabitable if it lacks (among other things):
safe drinking water and sewage facilities in good working order
working heating facilities, and
working electrical facilities.
For a full list of the landlord's responsibilities for maintaining a habitable rental unit, see Ore. Rev. Stat. § § 90.320 and90.730.
If the landlord fails to maintain the rental unit in a habitable condition, the tenant must first provide the landlord written notice that a repair needs to be made or an essential service needs to be provided. If the landlord does not provide services within a reasonable time, the tenant has several options available:
1. The tenant can make the repairs or provide the service and then deduct the amount of the repairs or service from the rent.
2. The tenant can recover damages from the landlord based on the lowered value of the rental unit.
3. If the repair or lack of service is so severe that the rental unit cannot be lived in, the tenant can find another place to live until the repairs are made. The tenant is not required to pay rent until the repairs are made and the tenant can move back into the rental unit.
If the landlord brings an eviction lawsuit against the tenant during this time for not paying rent, then the tenant can use evidence of the landlord's failure to make the repairs or provide the service as a defense to the eviction lawsuit.
See the Nolo article Oregon Tenant Rights to Withhold Rent or "Repair and Deduct" for more information.
Tenant Is Being Evicted for Violating the Lease Agreement
Before the landlord can evict a tenant for violating a portion of the lease agreement, the tenant must be given an opportunity to fix the violation. The tenant has fourteen days after receiving notice to fix the violation. If the tenant fixes the violation within the time frame, the landlord must not proceed with the eviction. If the landlord proceeds with the eviction anyway, the tenant can use evidence that the violation was fixed as a defense to the eviction (see Ore. Rev. Stat. § 90.392(1)).
Tenant Is Being Evicted in Retaliation of Exercising a Legal Right
A landlord cannot evict a tenant for exercising a legal right. This is called "retaliation." Oregon law allows a tenant to exercise the following legal rights without fear of eviction:
complaining to a government agency about code or legal violations committed by the landlord
complaining to the landlord about anything related to the rental unit
organizing or joining a tenants' union
testifying against the landlord in a legal proceeding
successfully defending against an eviction lawsuit, or
invoking any right given to a tenant under law.
See Ore. Rev. Stat. § 90.385(1).
If the landlord files an eviction lawsuit after the tenant has exercised one of these rights, the tenant can use retaliation as a defense to the eviction. See the Nolo article Oregon State Laws Prohibiting Landlord Retaliation for more information.
Landlord Is Evicting Tenant for a Discriminatory Reason
The federal Fair Housing Act makes it illegal for a landlord to discriminate against a tenant based on race, religion, gender, national origin, familial status (including children under the age of 18 and pregnant women), and disability. In addition to adopting all of the characteristics listed by the federal law, Ore. Rev. Stat. § 659A.421(2) makes it illegal for a landlord to discriminate against a tenant based on marital statutes, sexual orientation, or source of income. If a landlord evicts a tenant based on any of these characteristics, the tenant can use the discrimination as a defense against the eviction. See the Nolo article Housing Discrimination Prohibited by State and Local Law for more on laws prohibiting discrimination against tenants.
Additional Resources Available to Tenants in Oregon
The Oregon State Bar maintains a comprehensive database of legal topics regarding landlord/tenant issues. In addition, OregonLawHelp.org is a legal aid organization that offers legal advice and assistance to those that qualify. Even if you don't qualify for legal aid, the OregonLawHelp website offers useful information about the eviction process.
Your local court website, such as the Washington County Circuit Court, may also be a useful resource. Eviction lawsuits must be filed in the county where the rental property is located. To find your local courthouse, check out the Oregon Courts online directory.
Also check out Nolo’s Lawyer Directory for Oregon lawyers who specialize in landlord-tenant law.