Q: In Oregon, what is the highest late fee my landlord can demand? My monthly rent is 885.
He has charged anywhere from $50-$360 for 1 month in the past. We have paid 4+ months of rent in 2019 as of March and he is still saying we're over $600 behind. We are a single income family of 7 and it seems that he's taking advantage of what we don't have, just plain greedy. Thank you!
A: It depends upon what sort of a late fee he is assessing - once a month; 5 days late at a time or part thereof; daily; etc. Regardless, in order to charge any late fee, it must be specified in your written rental agreement along with the method and/or amount to be charged and starting upon what date each month. Regardless, you, of course, should always maintain records of how much rent you have paid and when it was paid, with proof (canceled check, money order stubs, receipt signed by landlord, etc.) and thus should know if you still owe back rent or not. It is not so important as to how much rent you have paid in 2019 as it is how much rent you still owe. If you think the landlord is not playing by the rules, consider reviewing everything with a landlord-tenant attorney. Good luck.
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