Between September 2022 and August 2023, there were around 16,000 eviction filings in Oregon.
If you're a Portland landlord, you never set out to evict a tenant at the start of a tenancy. Even with very thorough tenant screening practices, you never know how a tenant will behave until they're living in your rental.
When it becomes clear that your tenant can't pay rent or abide by your lease agreement, you must take action. In today's post, we'll describe how to handle evictions in Portland.
There's no denying that the eviction process is a long and complicated one. Keep reading, however, and we'll make it as clear as possible so you can deal with it efficiently and effectively.
Understand Eviction Laws in Oregon
The eviction process in Oregon is very similar to many other states. You start by sending an eviction notice to the tenant, filing eviction forms with the court, and serving the tenant their eviction papers. After that, you attend the trial and wait for an official judgment before your tenant is forced to vacate the unit.
There are only a few reasons to evict a tenant in Oregon. The first is failure to pay rent, which is served with a 3-day pay or quit notice. Breaking the lease with unauthorized pets or property damage is served with a 30-day notice to comply while conducting illegal activity in the rental gets a 24-hour notice to quit.
Avoiding Evictions
Before you start the eviction process, it's in everyone's best interest to exhaust all other options. Whatever your tenant has done to cause these problems, your first tactic should be to try and communicate with them.
If you can find out why the tenant is late with rent or causing damage to your property, you may be able to get through to them without such drastic measures. Giving them a warning and a chance to rectify the problem before you issue an official eviction notice will reflect well on you as a landlord.
Send a Notice
Sometimes communication just isn't enough. If your tenant continues to ignore your outreach, you can file eviction papers with the court. Once you do this, you can post the official eviction notice.
Occasionally, landlords will send these notices through the mail, but the most effective way to do it is by delivering them directly. On the notice, your tenant will be given an official notice to rectify the issue or face eviction.
Go to Court
Also on the notice is a date that you and the tenant must attend the trial. Here, you'll present any evidence you have of the tenant's wrongdoing. The tenant will also have a chance to state their case.
After the proceedings, you'll be given a resolution. If the court decides to evict the tenant, they'll receive an official court order to vacate the property and the eviction will be complete.
Getting Help With Your Portland Rental
Dealing with evictions can be difficult. If you want to avoid these stressful proceedings, it might be time to hire a property manager.
Full-service property management from PMI Bridgetown will handle all aspects of running your Portland rental property, including eviction protection and tenant screening to ensure you don't have poor tenants in the first place. Contact us today to learn more about our services.
