Oregon Renters' Handbook - OSPIRG

Chapter 3: Before Signingwith all the other terms of theold lease.Landlords may reserve the rightto raise rent during the course ofa lease. Read the rental agreementcarefully.A “Section 8” voucher is atype of agreement throughthe local housing authority. Theprogram gives rent assistance totenants who qualify through HUD.Landlords who accept “section 8”voucher tenants may end a rentalagreement without cause upon theending date of the term agreement.See Appendix B for resources and contactinformation.Oral AgreementsRental agreements can be oralor written. However, writtenagreements have the advantageof providing evidence concerningwho is responsible for what.Oral agreements may lead to seriousmisunderstandings in thefuture if both parties must relyon memory to resolve a dispute.Written AgreementsMost written agreements areon one of several standardizedforms. The agreements maycontain conditions not mentionedin the Act but that arelegal when signed by the tenant(house rules, etc.), provided therule is not prohibited by the Actor other laws. (See “The AgreementCan Include,” next page.)The Act also gives landlordssome rights which can onlybe exercised if a written rentalagreement so provides. Forexample, a landlord may serve acertain notices by “nail and mail”only if a “written rental agreementso provides.” (90.155(1))(See Evictions)Keep a copy of everythingto do with your tenancy in afile, and hold on to it, even after youmove out.16Oregon Renters’ Handbook