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Portland renters tell council of habitability, rising rents and call for a renters' bill of rights
Summary
Six renters and advocates told the committee about habitability problems, rising rents, corporate landlord practices and enforcement gaps; speakers urged tenant protections, a renters' bill of rights, and policies to expand supply and verify exemptions claimed by owners.
The committee heard extended public testimony from renters and advocates who described a mix of habitability problems, steep rent burdens and calls for stronger tenant protections.
Natalie Seals (District 4) said Portland’s renters deserve the same attention as homeowners and accused corporate owners of opaque pricing practices and sudden billing changes, naming one large owner as an example of practices that make stable renting impossible. She said many renters cannot or do not want to become homeowners and asked policymakers to prioritize renter stability.
Chris Olsen (member of the Portland chapter of the Democratic Socialists housing working group) described canvassing and town halls that revealed widespread renter instability and urged the council to adopt a renters' bill of rights with practical protections, citing elders living on fixed incomes who would be thrown out by maximum allowable rent increases.
Connor Lennon recounted prolonged infestation and water damage problems in his older building, described paying an outsized share of income to rent (about 74% in his case), and said many tenants cannot afford relocation. Several speakers emphasized that corporate property management practices and scarcity drive instability.
Other public commenters offered a range of perspectives: Talia Giardini noted not all landlords are problematic and emphasized living‑wage jobs as part of affordability solutions; Brian argued the city should focus on increasing supply and warned that social housing could strain city operational capacity; Edith Gilles urged accountability for landlords, banks and creditors to prevent homelessness; and Andrew Harrison Courtney delivered a broader moral appeal for systemic change.
Councilor Sameer Kunal testified as a renter with concrete proposals: invest in social housing, strengthen tenant union protections, verify owner exemptions used to displace tenants, enact a long‑term vacancy fee, lower the 10% relocation assistance trigger to 5%, lengthen notice periods and expand right‑to‑counsel in eviction proceedings. The committee thanked speakers and scheduled follow‑up meetings on unified housing strategy and the social housing study.
