SB 722 - Fines landlords who use price fixing apps like RealPage AND reduces the period for which new units are exempt from limits on rent hikes from 15 to 7 years - PTU Supports

Hearing scheduled Wednesday 3/26/25

Work Session scheduled Wednesday 4/02/25

Submit written testimony in favor of SB 722 (feel free to customize the testimony below)

Write letters to the Senators considering this bill in committee.

SB 722 main points

• These algorithmic devices allow landlords to engage in anti-competitive behavior
• They drive up rental prices beyond their market value
• High rent prices make the Portland homelessness crisis worse
• This law closes a loophole the prohibit cartel behavior that is already banned
• Capping rent increases on more units will help control skyrocketing rents

Sample testimony for SB 722

It's always great to add a personal story if you have one. Personal stories are the most impactful testimony, so please consider sharing how you have been or would be affected by excess fees charged by landlords, especially screening fees.

Dear Senator Pham and Senators of the Senate Committee on Housing and Development,

My name is [Your Name] and I live in [city]. I write to you in support of SB 722 which will stop landlords from using algorithmic services to collude to fix rent pricing.

High rents continue to exacerbate the homelessness crisis affecting Portland and all of Oregon and are a burden on all Oregon tenants. One recent factor in raising rents is the use of third-party companies like RealPage, Yardi, and YieldStar to work together to fix rental prices. Anti-competitive practices make a housing market already failing to serve Oregonians even worse. These services allow landlords to skirt antitrust policies to create de facto cartels to drive up rent.

It is absolutely vital that bodies like this one, who are interested in housing all Oregonians, take action to end these practices among landlords in our state. This is the first step in stopping unfair, anti-competitive practices among landlords in the state. Hopefully more legislation will follow to create stronger enforcement mechanisms and go after other common malfeasance among landlords like tenant harassment, bad faith complaints, and non-adherence to minimum housing quality standards.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

HB 2134 - Allows tenants to terminate a lease without penalty if their landlord notifies them that their lease will terminate - PTU Supports

Work Session scheduled Monday 3/24/25

HB 2134 main points

• Currently, landlords can terminate a tenancy with 90 days notice in several circumstances
• Tenants face many challenges finding new housing when their tenancy ends
• This bill helps tenants secure housing by enabling them to end the tenancy within 30 days so they can move into their new housing
• This prevents tenants from finding housing that meets their needs, but not being able to take advantage because it stops being available by the time their tenancy ends

HB 2967 - Prohibits landlords from charging screening fees - PTU Supports

Work Session scheduled Monday 4/07/25

HB 2967 main points

• Excessive add-on fees are one of multiple factors contributing to exploding rent, this bill would end one type of excess fee.

Sample testimony for HB 2967

It's always great to add a personal story if you have one. Personal stories are the most impactful testimony, so please consider sharing how you have been or would be affected by excess fees charged by landlords, especially screening fees.

[Your Representative],

My name is [your name] and I live in [your city]. I urge you to pass HB 2967 to prohibit landlords from charging application fees. These fees create a major financial burden for low-income renters, making it harder to secure stable housing.

These fees disproportionately affect marginalized communities and keep families trapped in unstable housing situations. Landlords have little incentive to keep these fees low. Existing regulations make it difficult for tenants to enforce their rights.

Eliminating these fees will help reduce barriers to housing and give renters a better chance at stability.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

HB 3521 - If a landlord breaches an agreement to rent to a tenant after the tenant has paid a deposit, this bill requires the landlord to pay the tenant their deposit plus additional damages - PTU Supports

Work Session scheduled Wednesday 3/26/25

HB 3521 main points

• A landlord breaching an agreement before a tenant moves in puts that tenant at risk of losing housing
• Currently, landlords face no consequences for breaching agreements like this, while tenants can face homelessness
• This bill creates balancing consequences while providing tenants damages that can keep them off the street temporarily if they need to look for housing last minute

HB 2305 - Creates a "3-strikes law" to help landlords evict tenants - PTU Opposes

HB 2305 main points

• Worsens the homelessness crisis
• Removes the tenants' right to cure
• Targets marginalized communities most of all (BIPOC, LGBTQ+, low income)
• Landlords can already evict tenants, this skips existing fair processes

Sample testimony for HB 2305

It's always great to add a personal story if you have one. Personal stories are the most impactful testimony, so please consider sharing how you have been or would be affected by a eviction or avoiding eviction with the right to cure.

[Your Representative],

I am [your name] from [your city], and I am writing to express strong opposition to HB 2305. This proposed bill would allow landlords to evict tenants for late rent payments without the opportunity to cure and would make it easier to evict for minor lease violations. In a time when job losses and economic hardship are widespread, creating a three‐strike law for housing is both unjust and dangerous. A few days’ delay in rent should never result in eviction when tenants face challenges such as delayed rent assistance or unexpected job loss.

HB 2305 undermines essential housing protections, disproportionately harming BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and low‐income communities. I urge you to consider the human impact and vote no on advancing this bill out of committee. We deserve dignity, stability, and respect. Supporting fair, humane housing policies is absolutely essential for building a resilient community.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

The Portland City Council is considering a proposed ordinance introduced by Councilor Angelita Morillo that would prohibit landlords from using anti-competitive price fixing services like RealPage, Yardi, and YieldStar.

Amend Affordable Housing Code to add prohibition of anti-competitive rental practices including the sale and use of algorithmic devices (add Code Section 30.01.190) - PTU Supports this ordinance

The Portland City Council Committee on Homelessness and Housing will discuss and possibly vote on this ordinance at their 3/25/25 meeting.

Write an email to the City Councilors on the Homelessness and Housing Committee

Portland Algorithmic Rental Price Fixing Ban main points

• These algorithmic devices allow landlords to engage in anti-competitive behavior
• They drive up rental prices beyond their market value
• High rent prices make the Portland homelessness crisis worse
• This law closes a loophole the prohibit cartel behavior that is already banned

Sample testimony for Portland Algorithmic Rental Price Fixing Ban

It's always great to add a personal story if you have one. Personal stories are the most impactful testimony, so please consider sharing how you have been or would be affected by a large rent increase.

Dear Chair Avalos and Councilors on the Homelessness and Housing Committee,

My name is [Your Name] and I live in [district/neighborhood]. I write to you in support of a motion to amend Affordable Housing Code to add prohibition of anti-competitive rental practices including the sale and use of algorithmic devices (add Code Section 30.01.190).

High rents continue to exacerbate the homelessness crisis affecting Portland and are a burden on all tenants who live in Portland. One recent factor in raising rents is the use of third-party companies like RealPage, Yardi, and YieldStar to work together to fix rental prices. Anti-competitive practices make a housing market already failing to serve Portlanders even worse. These services allow landlords to skirt antitrust policies to create de facto cartels to drive up rent.

It is absolutely vital that bodies like this one, who are interested in housing all Portlanders, take action to end these practices among landlords in the city and beyond. This is the first step in stopping unfair, anti-competitive practices among landlords in the city. Hopefully more legislation will follow to create stronger enforcement mechanisms and go after other common malfeasance among landlords like tenant harassment, bad faith complaints, and non-adherence to minimum housing quality standards.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]