If you have a housing-related legal issue, you don’t need to face it alone. The Oregon State Bar (OSB) has a new resource to help you find affordable legal assistance.

Thanks to a partnership with Oregon Housing and Community Services, OSB has expanded its Modest Means Program, which connects Oregonians who may not be able to afford legal help with reduced-cost legal services based on income. Now, more affordable lawyers than ever are available to help with housing and rental cases.

To learn more about Modest Means – or for any other help finding an attorney – go to https://www.osbar.org/public/ris or contact OSB’s Lawyer Referral Service at 503-684-3763 or toll-free in Oregon at 800-452-7636.

The Fair Housing Council of Oregon (FHCO) is a statewide civil rights organization whose mission is to eliminate illegal housing discrimination and ensure equal access to housing choice through education and enforcement of fair housing law.
Fair housing involves the rights that all people have to choose housing free from unlawful discrimination practices based on “protected class status.” Federal, state, and local fair housing laws all play a part in protecting people seeking housing from illegal discrimination in any housing transaction, including rentals, sales, lending, and insurance.
Fair housing ensures access for everyone. Fair housing guarantees that regardless of your race, sex, national origin, religion, family situation, or level of ability, you have the right to find housing that fits your needs — with no outside biases or stereotypes imposed upon you. By promoting fair housing through education and enforcement, the Fair Housing Council of Oregon creates welcoming, inclusive, and diverse communities that reflect all Oregonians.
Click below to learn more about FHCO or to report discrimination.

Security deposits are meant to protect the landlord, yet too often, tenants get screwed.

• How can a landlord use a security deposit?
• What you can do to secure your deposit

Read more - Click below

State rules on when and how landlords may enter tenant rental units.
When tenants sign a lease or rental agreement, they gain the right to exclusive use of the rental. This means that the landlord cannot enter the rental except as allowed by the terms of the lease or rental agreement and state law. Many states have laws requiring landlords to give tenants a minimum amount of notice (often 24 hours) before entering an occupied rental unit. Often, these laws also specify circumstances when a landlord may enter a tenant's rental unit (for example, to make repairs or show the unit to prospective renters). Here is a summary of state landlord access laws.
Note that even if a specific situation is not specifically mentioned in a statute, other law (such as that created by court decisions) might grant the landlord the right to enter. For example, in all states, even in the absence of a statute, landlords may enter to deal with a true emergency (an imminent and serious threat to health, safety, or property); and when the tenant has abandoned the property (left for good). Most states specify non-emergency circumstances that justify entry, and some explicitly include abandonment and "extended absence" (temporary but prolonged absence, which allows a landlord to enter when necessary to protect the property).
Also, always check to see if your lease or rental agreement includes a clause regarding the landlord's right to enter—many states allow landlords and tenants to make access agreements that differ from statutory law. If you have any questions about landlords' access laws in your state, contact a local tenants' rights group for help, or consult a local landlord-tenant attorney.

Lindsey Ellefson, of LifeHacker, writes, "If you rent your living space, sure, you don’t technically own it—but you do pay for it, and it’s your private sanctuary. However, your landlord may want to (or need to) enter your private domicile for some reason, at some point. While you do have a legal right to privacy, there are some instances in which you won’t be able to stop the unit’s owner from entering."

You don't want someone else in your space—but your landlord owns your space.  It is a quandary, but there are rules.  Click 'MORE' below to read the full article.