Is this Home Habitable

Did you know Oregon has a law that defines whether your rental property is habitable or not? These are the basic rules that every rental unit has to follow to make sure it’s safe, healthy and clean for the people who live there. In this blog post, I’ll tell you what these rules are, how to make sure they’re followed, and what to do if they’re not.

What are Oregon’s habitability standards? 

According to Oregon law, every rental unit has to meet these standards:

• It has to be waterproof and weatherproof. That means no leaks, no drafts.
• It has to have hot and cold running water that you can drink and use for cooking and bathing. The pipes and faucets have to work properly and not leak or clog.
• It has to have a heating system that can keep the whole place warm. The heater has to be safe.
• It has to have electricity that can power your lights and appliances. The wiring and outlets have to be safe and not spark or shock you.
• It has to be free from fire hazards, and it has to have a working smoke detector. The tenant has to test the smoke detector every six months and change the batteries when needed. It has to have appliances that work, like stoves, fridges, air conditioners and fans.
• It has to have floors, walls, ceilings, stairs and railings that are in good shape and aren’t falling apart.
• It has to have a working carbon monoxide detector if there’s anything in your unit that can make carbon monoxide, like a gas stove or a fireplace.

These standards apply not only to an individual unit, but also to the common areas that are shared with other tenants, like hallways and stairs.

What to do if Oregon’s habitability standards are violated?

If you’re a landlord who’s renting out a place that doesn’t meet Oregon’s habitability standards, you should fix any problems as soon as you can after your tenant tells you about them. You should also keep records of all your repairs and communications with your tenant. According to Oregon law, not repairing things on the habitability list means that you, as the owner, have broken the lease and can end up having to pay damages, court costs and attorney fees to the tenant.