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Tenant Repair Laws in Oregon

In Oregon, a tenant may have a minor habitability defect repaired and deduct up to $300 from rent if the landlord does not fix it by a date at least 7 days after written notice.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Oregon at a glance

Repair and deduct
Yes, up to $300 (minor defects)
Minor defects only (not mold, radon, asbestos or lead paint). The tenant may not do the work personally. Essential services may also be procured and deducted.
Landlord repair deadline
At least 7 days after written notice
Minimum for minor defects under ORS 90.368. For essential services the landlord gets a reasonable time.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Oregon

Can a tenant repair and deduct the cost from rent in Oregon?

Yes, up to $300 (minor defects). Repair and deduct in Oregon: yes, up to $300 (minor defects). Minor defects only (not mold, radon, asbestos or lead paint). The tenant may not do the work personally. Essential services may also be procured and deducted.

How long does a landlord have to make repairs after notice in Oregon?

Landlord repair deadline in Oregon: At least 7 days after written notice. Minimum for minor defects under ORS 90.368. For essential services the landlord gets a reasonable time.

Where do the Oregon tenant repair laws come from?

The rules above come from Or. Rev. Stat. 90.368 and Or. Rev. Stat. 90.365. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

For a missing essential service, the tenant may procure it and deduct the cost after allowing the landlord a reasonable time (ORS 90.365).

What this means in practice

Give notice in writing and keep a copy. Tenant repair remedies usually start running only after the landlord has received notice of the problem, and a dated letter or email is the easiest way to prove when that happened.

Document the condition before and after. Photos, videos, inspection reports from a local code office and receipts for any repair work help show that the problem was serious and that any amount deducted or withheld matches the actual cost.

Stay current on everything else. Repair remedies generally protect only tenants who are not otherwise behind on rent and who did not cause the damage, and using a remedy the state does not allow can be treated as nonpayment of rent and lead to an eviction case.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.