Oregon Repairs & Tenant Remedies
Oregon rules on repairs & habitability for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: Minor habitability defects repairable for not more than $300: tenant gives written notice with a repair date at least 7 days out; may then have a qualified person repair and deduct up to $300 with a written cost statement. ORS 90.368; ORS 90.365
The rules in Oregon
| Repair and deduct | Minor habitability defects repairable for not more than $300: tenant gives written notice with a repair date at least 7 days out; may then have a qualified person repair and deduct up to $300 with a written cost statement. Tenant may not do the work personally. For essential services, tenant may buy substitute services and deduct cost (ORS 90.365). Source: ORS 90.368; ORS 90.365 |
|---|---|
| Withholding rent | No general rent-withholding statute. Remedies for landlord noncompliance: 30-day termination notice if not cured within 7 days (essential services) or 30 days (other); damages; injunction; for essential-service failures, substitute services/deduct, diminished-rent damages, or substitute housing with rent excused. Tenant may assert habitability counterclaims in an eviction action (ORS 90.370) - not separately verified. Source: ORS 90.360; ORS 90.365 |
| Landlord retaliation | Landlord may not raise rent, reduce services, serve a termination notice, or sue for possession because the tenant complained to a government agency, made a good-faith complaint to the landlord, joined a tenant organization, testified against the landlord, or successfully defended a possession action within the previous 6 months. Tenant has a defense and the ORS 90.375 remedies. No fixed presumption period in the statute other than the 6-month look-back for a successfully defended possession action. Exceptions include tenant rent default when notice served (ORS 90.385(4)). Source: ORS 90.385 |
Related questions
Oregon vs. neighboring states
| State | Repair and deduct | Withholding rent | Landlord retaliation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | Minor habitability defects repairable for not more than $300: tenant gives written notice with a repair date at least 7 days out; may then have a qualified person repair and deduct up to $300 with a written cost statement. Tenant may not do the work personally. For essential services, tenant may buy substitute services and deduct cost (ORS 90.365). ORS 90.368; ORS 90.365 | No general rent-withholding statute. Remedies for landlord noncompliance: 30-day termination notice if not cured within 7 days (essential services) or 30 days (other); damages; injunction; for essential-service failures, substitute services/deduct, diminished-rent damages, or substitute housing with rent excused. ORS 90.360; ORS 90.365 | Landlord may not raise rent, reduce services, serve a termination notice, or sue for possession because the tenant complained to a government agency, made a good-faith complaint to the landlord, joined a tenant organization, testified against the landlord, or successfully defended a possession action within the previous 6 months. Tenant has a defense and the ORS 90.375 remedies. ORS 90.385 |
| California | If the landlord fails to fix conditions that make the unit untenantable within a reasonable time after notice (presumed 30 days), the tenant may repair and deduct the cost, up to one month's rent, or move out. The remedy may be used no more than twice in any 12-month period. Cal. Civ. Code § 1942 | By statute, a landlord may not demand or collect rent, raise rent, or serve a 3-day pay-or-quit notice when all of these are true: the unit is substantially substandard, a housing inspector has given the landlord written notice to repair, and the conditions remain unabated 35 days later without good cause. The tenant can recover actual damages plus $100 to $5,000 in special damages and attorney's fees. Cal. Civ. Code § 1942.4 | A landlord may not evict, raise rent, or reduce services within 180 days after the tenant, in good faith, gives a repair notice under § 1942, reports a suspected bed bug infestation, complains about habitability, complains to a housing agency, or takes part in a related inspection, lawsuit, or arbitration. This applies only if the tenant is not behind on rent, and a tenant may invoke it once per 12 months. Retaliation for organizing or joining a tenants' association, or for exercising other legal rights, is also unlawful. Threatening to report a tenant to immigration authorities counts as retaliation. Cal. Civ. Code § 1942.5 |
| Idaho | Not generally allowed. Only exception: if the landlord fails to install required smoke detectors within 72 hours after certified-mail notice, the tenant may install them and deduct the cost from the next month's rent. Idaho Code § 6-320(a) | Not allowed. Tenant's remedy for habitability failures is a lawsuit for damages and/or specific performance after 3 days' written notice to cure; specific-performance-only cases get a trial within 12 days of filing. Idaho Code § 6-320; Idaho AG Manual 'Withholding Rent' | No statute — Idaho has no general anti-retaliation statute for residential tenants. The Idaho Attorney General's Landlord and Tenant Manual says a landlord may not evict a tenant for asking for repairs or joining a tenants' association, but it cites no statute and sets no presumption period. Tenants in manufactured home communities are protected by statute: the landlord may not end or refuse to renew the tenancy, raise rent, cut services, or threaten eviction because the resident complained in good faith to a code agency or to the landlord, joined or led a resident association, or hired a lawyer or agent. No statute (Idaho Code Title 6 ch. 3 and Title 55 chs. 2-3 checked); Idaho Code § 55-2015 (manufactured home communities only) |
| Nevada | Allowed for minor defects: if the reasonable repair cost is less than $100 or one month's rent, whichever is greater, the tenant may give written notice; if the landlord does not use best efforts to comply within 14 days, the tenant may repair and deduct. Limited to $100 or one month's rent (whichever is greater) in any 12-month period. For failure to supply essential services, the tenant may procure them and deduct actual and reasonable cost after written notice and 48 hours (excluding weekends/holidays). NRS 118A.360; NRS 118A.380(1)(a) | Allowed. For habitability failures not remedied within 14 days of written notice, the tenant may withhold rent without late fees until the landlord remedies or attempts in good faith to remedy (justice courts must provide an escrow mechanism). For failure to supply essential services not remedied within 48 hours (excluding weekends/holidays) of written notice, the tenant may withhold rent that comes due during the noncompliance. NRS 118A.355(1)(d), (5); NRS 118A.380(1)(c), (3) | Landlord may not terminate/refuse to renew, raise rent, decrease essential services, or bring or threaten a possession action because the tenant in good faith complained of building/housing/health code violations, complained to the landlord or law enforcement of a violation of Ch. 118A or a criminal statute, organized or joined a tenants' union, instituted or defended a habitability proceeding, filed a fair housing complaint, or is a victim of domestic violence, harassment, sexual assault or stalking (among other listed acts). Tenant gets NRS 118A.390 remedies and a defense to a retaliatory possession action. NRS 118A.510 |
| Washington | Yes. After written notice and the landlord's failure to start repairs within the statutory period, tenant may (a) hire a licensed/qualified contractor and deduct up to two months' rent per repair (max two months' rent in any 12 months), or (b) make the repair personally and deduct up to one month's rent per repair (max one month's rent in any 12 months). RCW 59.18.100; RCW 59.18.070 | No general right to withhold rent. Tenant may deposit rent into an escrow account only after a local government official certifies a condition that substantially endangers health or safety and the landlord fails to repair; tenant must notify the landlord within 24 hours of the deposit using the sworn form. RCW 59.18.115 | Landlord may not evict, raise rent, reduce services or increase obligations (or threaten to) in retaliation for good-faith complaints to a government authority about code violations or for asserting rights under RCW 59.18. Action within 90 days after the protected act (or a resulting inspection/proceeding) is presumed retaliatory. RCW 59.18.240; RCW 59.18.250 |
City rules that may add to state law
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Oregon Repairs & Tenant Remedies FAQ
Can a tenant repair and deduct from rent in Oregon?
Minor habitability defects repairable for not more than $300: tenant gives written notice with a repair date at least 7 days out; may then have a qualified person repair and deduct up to $300 with a written cost statement. Tenant may not do the work personally. For essential services, tenant may buy substitute services and deduct cost (ORS 90.365). (ORS 90.368; ORS 90.365)
Can a tenant withhold rent for repairs in Oregon?
No general rent-withholding statute. Remedies for landlord noncompliance: 30-day termination notice if not cured within 7 days (essential services) or 30 days (other); damages; injunction; for essential-service failures, substitute services/deduct, diminished-rent damages, or substitute housing with rent excused. (ORS 90.360; ORS 90.365)
Can a landlord retaliate against a tenant for complaining in Oregon?
Landlord may not raise rent, reduce services, serve a termination notice, or sue for possession because the tenant complained to a government agency, made a good-faith complaint to the landlord, joined a tenant organization, testified against the landlord, or successfully defended a possession action within the previous 6 months. Tenant has a defense and the ORS 90.375 remedies. (ORS 90.385)
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.