New Forms: Rent Forbearance Request, COVID-19 Agreement, Balance Reminder & Resident Resources

We recognize that the COVID-19 health crisis is severely straining many residents’ finances. Our goal is to help keep residents safely in their homes. Multifamily NW has modified the Rental Forms Collection to accommodate rent forbearance and moratorium on residential evictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Multifamily NW is providing these new COVID-19 forms free of charge. Follow the link to download the forms. These forms are also available at the RentalFormsCenter.com and TenantTech.com.

RENT FORBEARANCE & TENANT COMMUNICATION

Click on the links below to download and use these forms free of charge. Updated versions became available on April 24th, 2020 and the Oregon Balance Reminder and Washington Payment Plan forms were updated again on July 1, 2020 for compliance.

Remember, no late fee may be charged or collected for rent that is delayed for the reasons stated in this moratorium. Additionally, a landlord may not seek rent that is delayed for the reasons stated in the moratorium through the eviction process. Depending on the jurisdiction, residents can have 6 months to pay back the deferred rent after the expiration of the COVID-19 emergency.

DISABLED FORMS THROUGH THE DURATION OF THE EVICTION MORATORIA

To assist our members and the general public comply with various eviction moratoria across Oregon, the following forms are not being sold and have been disabled in both TenantTech.com and the RentalFormsCenter.com until October 1, 2020:

• M015 OR 144-Hour Notice of Termination for Nonpayment of Rent
• M020 OR 72-Hour Notice of Termination for Nonpayment of Rent
• M019 OR End of Tenancy Notice (MTM or Non-Renewal) Not for Portland or Milwaukie
• M049 OR 90-Day End of Tenancy Notice (MTM or Non-Renewal) Portland/Milwaukie
• M085 OR Termination Without Stated Cause – Owner Occupied with 2 or less Units (Terminations issued after the 1^st Year)
• M067 OR Fixed Term Renewal Offer
• M042 OR Notification of Balance Due

EVICTION MORATORIAM

Various levels of government have announced restrictions, moratoriums and postponements of residential evictions. The city/county level restrictions are in effect so long as they renew their declaration of an emergency due to COVID-19. The Governor’s restriction on law enforcement’s FED action extends into the 3^rd week of June. The courts will not schedule FED first appearances (for any lease violation) until June 1st. The Governor’s 20-13 Executive Order prohibits the landlord from serving any nonpayment termiantion notice, even a 72-Hour Notice of Termination for Nonpayment of Rent. 

• On March 11 Multnomah County Chair Deborah Kafoury issued Executive Rule 388 declaring the COVID-19 pandemic an emergency and placed a moratorium on all residential evictions in Multnomah County for tenants on the basis of nonpayment of rent due to wage loss resulting from COVID-19.
• On March 22 Oregon Gov. Brown issued an Executive Order 20-11, a 90-day prohibition for law enforcement officers from serving, delivering or acting on any FED residential evictions for nonpayment.
• On March 27 (renewed from March 16) the Oregon Chief Justice declared a “level 3” restriction on court operations that postpones FED first appearance until June 1, 2020. This postponement includes all FEDs, not only for nonpayment.
• On March 27, 2020 the federal CARES Act was signed into law enacting a 120-day moratorium on eviction for landlords that receive federal funds (including Section 8 and Low Income Tax Credit Housing), and landlords with federally-backed mortgage loans. During the moratorium covered landlords cannot file an FED for nonpayment, charge late fees for nonpayment or serve notices to vacate for nonpayment.
• On April 1st Oregon Gov. Brown issued Executive Order 20-13, a 90-day prohibition for landlords to file, serve, deliver or act on any terminaion notice, order or writ of termination or the equivalent for nonpayment. This applies to both residential and commercial tenancies.
• On April 16th Multnomah County extended its eviction moratorium mirror Gov. Brown EO 20-13 extending protections to commercial properties and no longer requiring residential tenants to provide a reason to qualify or notification deadline for communication with the landlord. The 6-month grace period for repayment of missed rent payments remains after the expiration of either the State or County moratorium, whichever is later. 
• On May 1st Oregon Gov. Brown issued Executive Order 20-24, an extention of her earlier declaration of emergency due to COVID-19 an additional 60 days, through July 6, 2020 unless terminated earlier by the Governor.
• On June 26th HB 4213 passed the Oregon Legislature during its first Special Session of 2020. The bill continues and further defined the eviction moratorium. At this point the eviction moratorium will end on September 30th. The grace period for residents to become current with any unpaid rent during the COVID-19 emergency period (April 1 - Sept 30) is March 31, 2021.

These regulations can be amended without much notice. Members are encouraged to contact their legal counsel with questions related to rent forbearance and eviction moratorium. Multifamily NW now offers online training – check our website for upcoming educational opportunities.

RESOURCES

If your residents need help paying for rent, utilities, or relocation costs, direct them to contact these agencies:

RENT ASSISTANCE

• 211 (Statewide Assistance)
• Home Forward
• Impact NW
• Neighborhood House
• Lane County Resources
• Marion County Resources
• Neighbor Impact (Central Oregon)

UTILITY ASSISTANCE

• 211 (Statewide Assistance)
• Human Solutions
• Impact NW
• Self Enhancement, Inc. (SEI)
• Portland Water Bureau
• Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency