Q: Oregon, can landlord deduct $1000 repairs from security deposit instead of Billing tenant directly while living there?
Oregon tenant law, Landlord completed $1000 worth of repairs to property deducted the total from security deposit instead of billing tenant directly. Now he says tenant needs to repay the $1,000 to fill up the security deposit again. Tenant is on a 1 year lease until 1/1/25. Is it legal for the landlord to deduct the money from security deposit before tenant moves out of the property? ZIP Code is 97132. The landlord just listed the items without any invoices, window was $500, microwave repair $200, etc.
A: The security deposit is to cover the costs of damages that the tenant is responsible for. A landlord is free to charge against it anytime and to require the tenant to restore the deposit's balance. You can request proof of the charges but this means the landlord doesn't have to advance the repair cost and wait indefinitely for the tenant to pay.
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