Portland, OR asked in Landlord - Tenant for Oregon

Q: Can a landlord charge me exterminator fees as a miscellaneous fee added onto my rent?

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1 Lawyer Answer
Gregory L Abbott
Gregory L Abbott
Answered
  • Landlord Tenant Lawyer
  • Portland, OR
  • Licensed in Oregon

A: Asking again doesn't change the answer - IF you are responsible for introducing the bugs to the dwelling, the landlord can charge you to eradicate the vermin. If not, no. But they can only charge the actual cost incurred and not as a "fee" but as damages. If you do not timely pay, the landlord cannot include these costs in a 144 hr or 72 hr failure to pay rent notice but can issue you a 30 day for cause termination notice giving you 14 days to pay or 30 days to get out. If you do neither, then they can try to evict you based on non-payment of the bill. They would, however, have the burden of proving you are responsible for causing the infestation which often is difficult to do. Still, if they did, you would end up with an eviction on your rental record so best all the way around if you can find a negotiated settlement.

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