Six months into Oregon’s new holding-deposit rules and the same mistakes keep showing up on the Helpline. HB 3521 changed the order: screen and approve first, written statement second, money third. Here’s the exact sequence, what the written statement must say, when you can keep the deposit, and how it meshes with Portland’s FAIR screening rules.

But here's something that just landed on January 1st: House Bill 3521, bringing some fresh rules around holding deposits for rental applications. Don't worry, I'm not here to scare you—think of this as a friendly heads-up from one landlord to another. These changes are manageable, and getting them right actually helps you run a smoother, more professional operation. Who knows, it might even weed out the flaky applicants faster! Let's break it down conversationally, because no