Rental Repairs in Central Oregon

What does it take for a rental to be habitable?

Every rented residential unit in Oregon, regardless of how low the rent is, must meet certain standards for safety, health and cleanliness. These are called 'habitability' standards.

A rental must be waterproof and weatherproof. That means that doors and windows should seal properly, and that the roof, floors, and walls keep out wind and rain. Windows should latch, and all outside doors should have locks. Those locks should work properly with the keys the landlord provides to the tenant.

A unit must have hot and cold running water supplied through appropriate fixtures that are connected to a sewage system. The water must be safe to drink. Also, the plumbing system must be adequate for normal use and in good working order.

The unit must have a heat source or sources adequate to heat the whole unit. The heating system must have been properly installed and be safe and in good working order. Electrical equipment and lighting must be properly installed, and also must be adequate for normal use and kept in good working condition.

The unit must be safe from fire hazards and the landlord must place at least one working smoke detector in the unit. Tenants must test the smoke detectors at least once every six months. Tenants are responsible for replacing batteries in smoke alarms.