Oregon lawmakers are considering rent control expansion, called rent stabilization, to include some newer buildings, according to reports.
The current law applies only to residential rental units 15 years and older and limits rent increases to 10% a year. The bill would change that to buildings that are seven years or newer.
Also, lawmakers are considering banning the use of AI to set rents.
Adriana Grant, a policy associate with the Eugene Tenant Alliance, told lawmakers that allowing new buildings to remain exempt from rent-increase restrictions and allowing corporate landlords to trade insider information through software undermines the state’s efforts to address the housing crisis.
“Corporate landlords are using these predatory algorithms across the state,” Grant told Oregon Public Broadcasting. “If we don’t act now, Oregonians will continue to be priced out of their homes by software that treats housing as nothing more than a financial asset.”
Landlords would be banned from using AI algorithm software to determine rents.
A few groups representing real estate, as well as multi-family rental companies, testified in opposition, arguing that reducing the rent cap to seven years might make it harder for developers to attract investment and could make building housing less profitable.
The bill, Senate Bill 722, provides a ban on algorithm-based pricing software by rental companies and includes a provision to remove the rent cap exemption for buildings older than seven years old. The bill is likely to face amendments going forward.
The Oregon Department of Administrative Services (DAS) will calculate and post the percentage allowable rent increase for the 2026 calendar year by Sept. 30, 2025.
