Oregon is expected in 2019 to pass SB 608 – a statewide rent control laws that will give tenants two major protections: 

• Limit rent increases on tenants
• Tenants after 1 year can only be evicted for cause

The rules suggested by the Oregon legislature are a direct response to the rapidly rising living cost in the state, and after the 2018 mid term elections – democrats now have veto-proof majority in both houses.  The goal of SB 608 is to protect existing tenants from further rent escalations and displacement by landlords.  SB 608 closely resembles rent control ordinances that was implemented in California and New York cities since the 1970s.  

Oregon’s effort is different than rent control in we see in cities like Beverly Hills, Berkeley, and Los Angeles – this is the first time in US history a state-wide rent control ordinance will take place.  It will serve as a long term experiment to see if rent control is actually a viable strategy to combat rent costs that other states can implement nationwide.  

Whether or not rent control helps with housing costs, the studies are mixed – a study of San Francisco determine that it helps residents who were around the time rent control was implemented.  Other studies show that rent control restrict housing supply and impact current properties negatively.  

Predicting the future is a fool’s errand, especially when the solution to the housing crisis could come out of left field.  Nothing in SB 608 produces more homes for Oregonians, just as any other rent control ordinance in the US.  The only way to solve the housing crisis and reduce the price of rent is to increase the supply of affordable units.  State and city officials have to do