Tell Portland City Council: Pause the 30.01.088 Proposal

The City of Portland’s Homelessness and Housing Committee is reviewing a new addition to the City Code — Section 30.01.088: Prohibited Anti-Competitive Rental Practices.

While the latest draft improves on the April version, it still includes provisions that would penalize housing providers for responsible, data-informed management practices.

The current draft:

Targets behaviors, not tools, which could punish property managers for analyzing rent and occupancy data across their portfolios.
Imposes large financial penalties and an unrealistic five-year statute of limitations, leaving providers exposed to false or misguided claims.
Risks discouraging housing investment and innovation in Portland’s already fragile housing market.

Housing providers use property management systems to analyze public and market data — such as vacancy rates, neighborhood trends, and lease expirations — to keep rents consistent with actual market conditions. These tools promote transparency, predictability, and stability for both renters and providers.

Urge City Council to pause this proposal and collaborate with housing providers, property managers, and experts to craft balanced, data-driven policy that supports stable, fair housing for Portlanders.

Dear [Lawmaker],

I’m writing to urge you to pause consideration of the proposed addition of Section 30.01.088 – Prohibited Anti-Competitive Rental Practices and engage directly with Portland’s housing providers before moving forward.
While the October 2 version includes some important improvements — including clearer definitions and new protections for housing providers — it still poses serious risks for responsible property owners and managers.
By targeting behaviors rather than specific tools, the proposal could unintentionally penalize property management companies for analyzing data across their portfolios — a standard practice that helps ensure consistency, transparency, and alignment with market conditions.
The large financial penalties and five-year statute of limitations create unrealistic exposure for housing providers acting in good faith. These provisions would invite false claims and discourage investment at a time when Portland needs more housing stability, not less.
Please delay action on this proposal and bring housing providers, property managers, and experts into the conversation to help shape balanced, informed policy that supports stable housing for Portland residents.

Sincerely,
______

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