Portland rents up 46% — thank rent control

By Taxpayers Association of Oregon
OregonWatchdog.com

According to NW Public Broadcasting rent among average two bedroom apartments in Portland is up 46% to an average of $3,347.

For this you need to thank liberal politicians’ push for rent control.

For starters, Oregon’s new rent control means landowners feel pressure to set maximum rent increases as a protection against uncertain financial times. Normally, landowners raise rents when needed, but under government control, these landowners may not be able to do this, so they need to act now to stem a crisis later.

Since Portland’s new landlord rules, the numbers of rental units has decreased as landowners leave the market. This creates a supply shortage which drives up prices.

Also, surrounding rent control laws, local and statewide, are new laws aimed at making landowners pay more. For instance, new laws that make landowners pay for the moving expense of renters if you evict renters under certain circumstances.

Portland and Multnomah County have raised both taxes on small business owners, business license fees, income taxes and property taxes which drive up costs for landowners which in turn get passed on to renters. Portland’s 49% rent spike is help paying for these double digit tax increases.

Finally, Oregon’s land-use laws, mainly the urban growth boundary, which only exists in three places in America, also drive up rent.

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