A-Engrossed
House Bill 2639
Ordered by the House April 17
Including House Amendments dated April 17
Sponsored by Representative KOTEK; Representatives HARKER, HUFFMAN (Presession filed.)
Click here for the pdf version of Bill 2639

  May 2013 Edition
      IS LANDLORD LIABILITY ON THE RISE?
            By American Apartment Owners Association

     Landlords and Hoarders: When a fire broke out recently in an apartment building in
     San Diego, firefighters soon found their access was hampered–by piles and piles of
     clothing and other belongings.  The apartment they were trying to save was heaped
     with junk, making it difficult to tell whether someone was trapped inside.

      SEE page 8 of May's Update for more on "Is Landlord Liability on the Rise".

April 2013 Edition

    SUCCESSFUL SECTION 8 RENTALS
    By Elena Tangman-Wells Executive Vice President, Bluestone & Hockley Real Estate Services
   When I talk to rental home owners about Section 8 I typically get two responses,
  “Absolutely not” or “I’ve heard a lot of different things, but I really don’t know anything
   about how it works.” Renting your home to a tenant that receives Section 8 assistance
   can be a positive experience if you follow some basic rules: 
  
   SEE page 6 of April's Update for more on "Successful Section 8 Rentals".

Click Cover to View Full Image

    By Elizabeth Carpenter, RHAGP President

     The path to neutrality.
     As President of the Rental Housing Association of Greater Portland (RHAGP), I’d like to express
     my appreciation to Tina Kotek, Speaker of the House, for joining us at the April 17th dinner meeting.
     The hot topic of discussion was House Bill 2639, known as the Housing Choice or the Section 8 bill.

In the April 15, 2013 press release from the Rental Housing Association of Greater Portland, we announced our neutrality regarding HB2639.  This may be a surprise to some of our members. We are not saying we support making Section 8 mandatory. Section 8 is currently a voluntary, federally subsidized program, and it should remain a choice to participate or not.
But what does ‘mandatory Section 8’ really mean? In the context of HB2639, mandatory means:

     By Elizabeth Carpenter, RHAGP President
     
      From the April 2013 issue of the Update.

      I am excited to announce that the RHAGP will be working closely with Jason Atkinson of
      Atkinson & Co.,   a firm specializing in raising funds and negotiating deals for fastgrowing organizations. 

In addition to serving clients, Jason has been a State Senator in Oregon from 2000-2012. During his tenure in office, he has built and maintained a reputation as the State’s preeminent coalition-builder and strategic-leader. 

    By Elizabeth Carpenter, RHAGP President

     From the March 2013 issue of the Update.

     What an exciting time to be President of the RHAGP. We are continually growing in
     Membership, educational classes, and dinner meetings which focus on both education and networking. RHAGP is committed to educating new landlords and property managers, as well as enhancing education for the seasoned landlords and property managers.

     By Elizabeth Carpenter, RHAGP President

      From the February 2013 issue of the Update.

      The RHAGP has been actively working to participate in housing issues. The current focus of our work
      is within three stakeholder groups with the topics under discussion as described below. I think it says
a lot that we are invited to participate in these conversations and that our ideas are considered both locally and statewide.

Landlord Tenant Coalition - Phil Owen and Cindy Robert have been participating in these bimonthly meetings since last summer. While the conversation has not come to the point of a completed and agreed upon piece of legislation, the topics still on the table include renters insurance, guest definitions, criminal history consideration and the ability to assess fees for non-compliance of contract terms on such issues as pets and smoking. 

      By Elizabeth Carpenter, RHAGP President

        From the January 2013 issue of the Update.

        It is my pleasure, as the newly installed President of RHAGP, to extend my thanks to Phil Owen
        for his three years of service in the office of President.  Phil goes above and beyond in his support of landlords and their concerns.  I would like to thank him for his mentoring during my term as President Elect this past year.

I look forward to providing information concerning the Rental Housing Community to Landlords throughout the State of Oregon, as well as those within the Portland Metro area.