Do Oregon Landlords Care About the Tenants They Evict? Compassionate Approaches to Oregon Eviction Practices
- Christian Bryant
- Dec 19, 2025
- 3 min read
Hey everyone, Christian Bryant here from the Portland Area Rental Owners Association (PAROA).
As landlords, property managers, and investors across the Portland metro and Oregon, we all dread that moment when eviction becomes unavoidable. But let's address the elephant in the room: do Oregon landlords care about the tenants they evict?
You've seen the headlines portraying us as heartless profiteers who only chase the bottom line. That hurts more than finding out your "quiet" tenant is secretly running a drum circle at 2 a.m. (True story from one of our members—don't ask). Truth is, that stereotype fits a tiny minority. I've met thousands of you through management, evictions, sales, and classes statewide, and I can count the truly cold ones on one hand.
Most of us have that heartbreaking tale of the reliable tenant—pays on time, keeps the place spotless, maybe even shovels the walk without asking—who falls on hard times. Evicting them? It's an emotional wrecking ball. We take no joy in it and would dodge it entirely if we could. Many of us run just 1-5 units; missed rent threatens our own mortgages. Even when the tenant is a decent person facing tough luck, we often have little choice but to move forward to protect our investment.
A tragic OPB story by Amelia Templeton about a Portland woman with schizophrenia who died homeless after eviction hit hard. Her landlord tried connecting her to support organizations, but it wasn't enough. These cases remind us: most landlords aren't monsters—we seek win-win outcomes.
Supporting Tenants with Oregon Eviction Practices
That's why knowing resources matters immensely. Many landlords overlook local programs aiding tenants at homelessness risk—offering housing, food, job training, and emergency rent assistance. Churches and non-profits often help too. Keep contacts ready; one call can transform a situation.
Start here (full links below). Research locally: shelters, veterans' groups, women's organizations, churches, housing authorities—they often guide you further.
Compassionate Strategies in Oregon Eviction Practices
We can ease the process during eviction. Current Oregon law uses a 10-day or 13-day notice for nonpayment (13 days if rent is 5+ days late; 10 days if 8+ days late). Many aid programs require a formal notice for eligibility, so issuing promptly—while communicating—buys time for applications without slowing your timeline if needed.
Open communication from tenants? Collaborate.
Stipulated agreements at the first hearing help too: Set move-out or payment plans. If honored, case dismisses—no eviction record. Wins all around: faster for you, clean slate for them. Default? Swift judgment.
Landlording doesn't require zero heart. We sometimes must evict good or struggling tenants, but we safeguard our business while showing care. Top landlords I know command respect by being firm yet humane. It's tough balance, but worth it.
And if eviction feels like herding cats... at least cats don't leave forwarding addresses!
Stay compassionate out there,
Christian Bryant
Portland Area Rental Owners Association (PAROA)
Sources:
Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) Article → https://www.opb.org/news/article/portland-homeless-woman-who-died-suffered-from-schizophrenia
Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS 90.394) on Nonpayment Notices → https://oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_90.394
Oregon Judicial Department Eviction Instructions (Updated 2025) → https://www.courts.oregon.gov/forms/Documents/FED-Inst-LL.pdf
211info Resources → https://211info.org/
Oregon Housing and Community Services → https://www.oregon.gov/ohcs/pages/index.aspx
HUD Oregon Contacts → https://www.hud.gov/states/oregon
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