MHCO Article Topics
Answer. This question is best answered by contacting your own legal counsel familiar with the local Junction City and Harrisburg ordinances. However, this is an important topic and warrants being addressed to MHCO Members generally on a statewide basis.
By Bill Miner and Seth (Moe) Tangman
Over the past two years the Oregon Manufactured Housing Landlord Tenant Coalition reviewed sub metering statutes. Last year a landlord-tenant work group drafted a number of significant changes to existing statute. Those changes were adopted into the Landlord Tenant Coalition Bill (SB 586) and passed by the Oregon Legislature.
Answer. Under the current law,[1]a landlord may unilaterally amend a rental agreement to convert to submetering by giving the tenant not less than 180 days’ written notice.
It was a brutal legislative session that will always be remembered for the passage statewide rent control (SB 608). Unconscionable that the majority party leaves opponents 90 - seconds to testify in opposing significant legislation after unlimited time for panel after panel of 'experts' in support. When in power they all do it - Democrat and Republican - not a pretty thing to watch.
Answer: Interestingly, the current submetering statutes do not have a protocol dealing solely with passing through utilities for common area, separately from that for spaces. In other words, at the time of submetering the spaces, you could do it using the prorate method you describe, in which case it would be preceded by a 180-day notice.