By Coty Thurman, June 3, 2024
5 Things to Know About Renting in Portland
As a landlord in Portland, navigating the rental market can be both rewarding and challenging. Here are three essential things to know about Local Rental Laws and Regulations:
- Notice Periods: Tenants are entitled to substantial notice periods for rent increases and lease terminations. For example, you typically need to provide 90 days’ notice for a rent increase. Tenants are also provided a minimum of 10-days notice for non-payment of rent, a notice that can be issued no earlier than the 8th of the month.
- Security Deposits: The city has specific rules on how to handle security deposits, including how much a tenant can be charged, their timeline for paying deposits, timelines for returning them and itemizing any deductions. Utilize the City of Portland Guide to Security Deposits for more information.
- Relocation Assistance: In certain situations, landlords must provide financial relocation assistance to tenants when a lease is terminated without cause. Landlords can apply for relocation exemptions but it’s important to do so before signing a lease with a new tenant. For details on Portland’s Relocation Assistance and landlord exemptions visit the Portland Housing Bureau’s website.
- Rental Registration: Landlords are required to register their rental properties with the Portland Housing Bureau. This helps the city track rental properties and ensures compliance with local laws. Use this link to learn more about registering your rental property.
- Tenant Screening Criteria Disclosure: Landlords must provide written notice of their tenant screening criteria and the process they use to evaluate applications to all potential applicants before they apply for the rental property. This ensures transparency and fairness in the selection process. Use this link to access more details on Portland FAIR – Applications & Screening rules.
Living Room Property Management specializes in long-term, residential rentals: single-family homes, 2-4 unit plexs, privately owned condos and ADUs. Are you interested in learning more about Living Room’s property management services? Click here to request a rental quote and schedule a time to connect.
Coty Thurman
President & Licensed Principal Broker of Property Management | OR & WA
She/Her
Helping property owners navigate Portland’s rental market with strategy, ethics, and real-world experience.
I’ve spent more than two decades in residential rental management, and if there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that property management is never just about the property — it’s about people, strategy, and doing things the right way.
As President of Living Room Property Management, my work is centered on helping property owners and tenants thrive through thoughtful systems, clear communication, and ethical housing practices. I love the problem-solving side of this industry — translating complex laws into practical strategies, building processes that support both people and performance, and helping owners make confident decisions about their homes.
People usually call me when they want to talk through the strategy of being a rental property owner. Whether it’s selling a tenant-occupied home, navigating a tough tenant situation, pricing a property, deciding on upgrades, or figuring out the right time to lease, I help people think through the long game. After 25+ years in the industry, I’ve likely encountered a version of your situation before and can offer perspective to support your overall strategy.
I’m passionate about sharing rental trends through both national data and insights from our own portfolio of homes. The hyper-local Portland–Vancouver market is our specialty, and our team is deeply committed to helping housing providers understand both the laws and the realities of our local market.
Industry leadership and community involvement are an important part of my work. I serve as a board member of the Greater Portland chapter of the National Association of Residential Property Managers (NARPM) and had the honor of serving as the 2025 Board President. I’m also a dedicated member of Multifamily NW and the Oregon Realtist community — a group of professionals across the real estate industry working to foster inclusive collaboration, support underserved communities, and create pathways toward greater Black and minority homeownership in Oregon.
I hold property management licenses in both Oregon and Washington and am grateful to manage homes throughout the Portland–Vancouver metro area.
A few things you should know about me: I won’t help anyone get around the law. Ethical housing practices are non-negotiable. And I won’t speak negatively about our city or our neighborhoods — I believe deeply in this community and wouldn’t choose to do this work anywhere else.
Portland is home. I grew up in Montavilla and attended Marshall High School, and today I’m raising my family in the east metro area with my high-school-sweetheart-turned-husband, our kids, and our dog. Outside of work, you’ll usually find me enjoying live comedy or theater, exploring great food, or singing along (loudly) to the Hamilton soundtrack on a scenic drive.
At the end of the day, my goal is simple: help people become thoughtful, confident housing providers — and make room for them to live.