Multifamily NW
Multifamily NW#
Multifamily NW is a trade association representing rental housing providers, property managers, owners, and industry vendors in Oregon and Southwest Washington. Founded in 1992 as the Metro Multifamily Housing Association (MMHA), the organization rebranded to Multifamily NW in 2013 to reflect its expanded geographic reach.1 It is headquartered in the Portland area.
The association represents nearly 300,000 rental homes across Oregon and is the largest apartment association in the Pacific Northwest.2 Its members range from small independent landlords to large property management companies operating throughout the Willamette Valley, Central Oregon, and Southern Oregon. Multifamily NW provides legislative advocacy, education, professional development, and standardized rental forms widely used across the state.
Policy Positions#
- Rent control: Opposes rent control measures, arguing they reduce housing supply and discourage investment in new rental housing. Actively opposed SB 608 (2019) and SB 611 (2023), contending that rent caps worsen the housing crisis by driving housing providers out of the market.3
- Housing supply: Supports policies that accelerate housing production, including streamlined permitting and tax exemptions for multifamily and affordable housing development. Backed SB 974 (2025) to accelerate permitting timelines and HB 2074 (2025) to extend tax exemptions for multi-unit housing projects.4
- Tenant screening: Opposes restrictions on tenant screening criteria. Filed a lawsuit against the City of Portland in 2020 challenging the Fair Access in Renting (FAIR) ordinance, which limited landlords’ ability to screen tenants based on criminal history, credit history, and rental history.5
- Regulatory burden: Opposes mandatory inclusionary zoning, mandatory cooling requirements, and eviction bans, arguing these regulations increase costs for housing providers and reduce the availability of rental housing.4
- Renter education: Supports funding for renter education programs, including advocating for $1.5 million in state funding for in-person Rent Well classes to educate first-time renters on financial responsibility and tenant rights.4
Key Legislative Involvement#
- SB 1523 (2026): Testified on legislation related to rental housing regulation during the 2026 session, continuing the organization’s active engagement with the legislature on housing provider issues.
- SB 974 (2025): Testified in support of permitting reform legislation aimed at accelerating housing development timelines, with Zach Lindahl representing the organization in multiple hearings.4
- HB 2074 (2025): Testified in support of extending tax exemptions for multi-unit and affordable housing development projects through 2032, with Jonathan Clay representing the organization.6
- SB 611 (2023): Testified in opposition to lowering Oregon’s rent increase cap from 7% plus CPI to 3% plus CPI. Executive Director Deborah Imse argued the tighter cap would discourage housing investment and exacerbate the supply shortage.3
- HB 2889 (2023): Provided testimony on the Oregon Housing Needs Analysis reform legislation, which amended land use requirements for local governments related to urbanization and housing planning.7
- SB 291 (2021): Opposed legislation requiring landlords to adopt written screening criteria and limiting the criminal history landlords could consider when evaluating applicants, with Michael Havlik testifying on behalf of the organization.8
- SB 608 (2019): Opposed Oregon’s first-in-the-nation statewide rent control law, which capped rent increases at 7% plus CPI and restricted no-cause evictions. The organization argued that rent control reduces housing supply and hurts renters in the long run.9
News Coverage
No news coverage found for this organization.
Legislative Testimony
2026
10 testimonies
| Bill | Name | Position | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| SB 1521 Prohibits cities and counties within the Portland MSA from enforcing requirements that developers provide affordable units in multiunit dwellings unless the city or county first calculates the developers' average expected losses due to providing affordable housing and the city or county offsets those losses. |
Zach Lindahl | Neutral | 2026-02-26 |
| HB 4123 Limits the circumstances under which a landlord may disclose confidential information. |
Jonathan Clay | Neutral | 2026-02-24 |
| HB 4128 Prohibits covered entities from purchasing, acquiring or offering to purchase or acquire a single-family residence unless the residence has been listed for sale to the general public for at least 90 days. |
Jonathan Clay | Neutral | 2026-02-24 |
| SB 1523 Defines "tenant portal" for the purposes of residential tenancies. |
Jonathan Clay | Neutral | 2026-02-20 |
| HB 4128 Prohibits covered entities from purchasing, acquiring or offering to purchase or acquire a single-family residence unless the residence has been listed for sale to the general public for at least 90 days. |
Jonathan Clay | Oppose | 2026-02-12 |
| HB 4120 Allows residential landlords of multifamily housing to convert premises to nonsmoking for existing tenants upon 180 days' written notice. |
Zachary Lindahl | Support | 2026-02-11 |
| HB 4123 Limits the circumstances under which a landlord may disclose confidential information. |
Jonathan Clay | Neutral | 2026-02-05 |
| HB 4037 Adjusts certain terms of the revolving loan program for cities and counties to fund affordable housing projects. |
Jonathan Clay | Support | 2026-02-05 |
| SB 1567 Authorizes the Housing and Community Services Department to fund mixed income housing. |
Jonathan Clay | Support | 2026-02-03 |
| SB 1523 Defines "tenant portal" for the purposes of residential tenancies. |
Jonathan Clay | Oppose | 2026-02-03 |
2025
47 testimonies
| Bill | Name | Position | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| SB 690 Requires courts to delay residential eviction trials for nonpayment until at least 90 days following defendants' motion and declaration regarding their health-related social needs housing supports. |
Zach Lindahl | Support | 2025-06-18 |
| HB 3974 Limits the applicant screening charge a residential landlord may collect to $20. |
Zach Lindahl | Oppose | 2025-05-31 |
| HB 3521 Requires residential landlords to pay a minimum amount of damages for breaching an agreement to later execute a rental agreement of a habitable dwelling unit in exchange for holding a deposit, unless the deposit is returned within five business days or repayment is excused based on an act of God. |
Jonathan Clay | Oppose | 2025-05-14 |
| SB 500 Allows a new income or corporate excise tax credit for a portion of the eligible costs of a newly constructed single-family dwelling that sells for a price that is affordable to a household with an annual income at or below 120 percent of the area median income. |
Zach Lindahl | Support | 2025-05-13 |
| HB 3054 Fixes at six percent maximum rent increases for rental spaces in a larger facility beginning in 2026. |
Zach Lindahl | Oppose | 2025-05-07 |
| SB 426 Makes an owner and a direct contractor jointly and severally liable in a civil action for any unpaid wages owed to the unrepresented employees of the direct contractor and subcontractors at any tier. |
Zach Lindahl | Oppose | 2025-05-07 |
| SB 684 Amends the definition of "residential housing" to include certain mixed income housing. |
Jonathan Clay | Support | 2025-05-07 |
| SB 690 Requires courts to delay residential eviction trials for nonpayment until at least 90 days following defendants' motion and declaration regarding their health-related social needs housing supports. |
Zach Lindahl | Oppose | 2025-05-07 |
| SB 974 Requires local governments or special districts to complete final review of final engineering plans for residential development within 120 days of submission. |
Zach Lindahl | Support | 2025-05-01 |
| HB 2134 Allows tenant to terminate a tenancy during the fixed term without penalty upon 30 days' notice if the landlord delivers certain notices terminating the tenancy in 90 days or more. |
Jonathan Clay | Neutral | 2025-04-21 |
| SB 586 Allows a landlord to pay a tenant one month's rent to reduce from 90 to 60 days the termination notice period that a landlord must give the tenant when selling the dwelling unit to buyers who intend to reside in the unit. |
Jonathan Clay | Support | 2025-04-15 |
| SB 814 Modifies eligibility criteria for the long-term rental assistance program for certain individuals under 25 years of age. |
Jonathan Clay | Support | 2025-04-15 |
| HB 3939 Extends the temporary Oregon Business Development Department residential infrastructure grant program by two years. |
Jonathan Clay | Support | 2025-04-07 |
| SB 829 Requires the Department of Consumer and Business Services to establish a program to assist eligible entities in paying the costs of property insurance or liability insurance premiums for affordable housing, shelters and other facilities. |
Jonathan Clay | Support | 2025-03-26 |
| SB 722 Prohibits residential landlords from using certain software to set rents or occupancy rates. |
Zach Lindahl | Oppose | 2025-03-18 |
| SB 6 Requires the Department of Consumer and Business Services, a municipality, a building official or any other agency or official responsible for administering and enforcing the state building code to approve and issue, or disapprove and deny, any application for a building permit for middle housing or conventional single-family residential housing in a residential subdivision with more than six lots not later than 45 business days after the date on which the applicant submits a complete application. |
Zach Lindahl | Support | 2025-03-14 |
| HB 3522 Allows an owner or landlord to evict a squatter. |
Jonathan Clay | Support | 2025-03-14 |
| SB 974 Requires local governments or special districts to complete final review of final engineering plans for residential development within 120 days of submission. |
Zach Lindahl | Support | 2025-03-14 |
| SB 54 Requires that residential tenants be provided with indoor cooling or cooling spaces for multiunit buildings with 10 units or more. |
Zach Lindahl | Oppose | 2025-03-14 |
| SB 722 Prohibits residential landlords from using certain software to set rents or occupancy rates. |
Zach Lindahl | Oppose | 2025-03-14 |
| HB 2968 Requires the Housing and Community Services Department to guarantee a housing developer's payment of system development charges that the local government has agreed to defer until after occupancy. |
Jonathan Clay | Support | 2025-03-12 |
| SB 50 Allows the Housing and Community Services Department to use certain moneys in the Local Innovation and Fast Track Housing Program Fund set aside to purchase multifamily housing to convert to affordable housing. |
Zachary Lindahl | Support | 2025-03-11 |
| HB 3506 Transfers moneys from the Senior Property Tax Deferral Revolving Account to the Healthy Homes Repair Fund for the purpose of supporting seniors and individuals with disabilities and to the Department of Revenue to increase public knowledge of property tax deferral programs. |
Jonathan Clay | Support | 2025-03-10 |
| HB 3145 Allows the Housing and Community Services Department to use Local Innovation and Fast Track Housing Program Fund moneys for factory-built housing. |
Jonathan Clay | Support | 2025-03-10 |
| SB 599 Prohibits landlords from inquiring about or discriminating on the basis of a tenant's or applicant's immigration or citizenship status, rejecting an applicant based on the type of identifying documentation or disclosing or threatening disclosure of an applicant's or a tenant's immigration or citizenship status for improper purposes. |
Jonathan Clay | Neutral | 2025-03-05 |
| HB 3589 Requires the Housing and Community Services Department to develop a senior housing development initiative. |
Jonathan Clay | Support | 2025-03-04 |
| SB 973 Requires a landlord of publicly supported housing to provide all applicants and new tenants notice of when the affordability restrictions may be terminated. |
Zach Lindahl | Support | 2025-03-03 |
| HB 2138 Expands allowable middle housing and expands middle housing requirements to include urban unincorporated lands. |
Zach Lindahl | Support | 2025-03-03 |
| SB 31 Authorizes the Housing and Community Services Department to provide grants to support tenants of publicly supported housing when the housing's affordability restrictions are terminated. |
Jonathan Clay | Support | 2025-03-03 |
| SB 32 Requires the Housing and Community Services Department to post information about publicly supported housing on the department's webpage. |
Zach Lindahl | Support | 2025-03-03 |
| SB 49 Adds two members to the Building Codes Structures Board and adds two professions that the board members must represent. |
Zach Lindahl | Oppose | 2025-03-03 |
| SB 586 Allows a landlord to pay a tenant one month's rent to reduce from 90 to 60 days the termination notice period that a landlord must give the tenant when selling the dwelling unit to buyers who intend to reside in the unit. |
Jonathan Clay | Support | 2025-03-03 |
| HB 3031 Establishes a program through which the Oregon Infrastructure Finance Authority may provide financial assistance for infrastructure to support housing development. |
Jonathan Clay | Support | 2025-02-24 |
| SB 426 Makes an owner and a direct contractor jointly and severally liable in a civil action for any unpaid wages owed to the unrepresented employees of the direct contractor and subcontractors at any tier. |
Zach Lindahl | Oppose | 2025-02-24 |
| SB 438 Allows the owner of property outside an urban growth boundary to site an additional dwelling on the property for occupancy by a relative of the owner. |
Zach Lindahl | Support | 2025-02-24 |
| SB 878 Allows an occupying homeowner outside of an urban growth boundary to site one additional family dwelling unit on the tract of the home. |
Zach Lindahl | Support | 2025-02-24 |
| SB 158 Allows a landlord and a tenant to agree to a recurring charge in lieu of a security deposit. |
Jonathan Clay | Support | 2025-02-19 |
| HB 3378 Requires residential landlords to offer a method of accessing the dwelling unit other than software on tenant-owned phones or other electronic devices for the dwelling to be considered habitable. |
Zach Lindahl | Oppose | 2025-02-17 |
| HB 3521 Requires residential landlords to pay a minimum amount of damages for breaching an agreement to later execute a rental agreement of a habitable dwelling unit in exchange for holding a deposit, unless the deposit is returned within five business days or repayment is excused based on an act of God. |
Jonathan Clay | Oppose | 2025-02-14 |
| HB 2134 Allows tenant to terminate a tenancy during the fixed term without penalty upon 30 days' notice if the landlord delivers certain notices terminating the tenancy in 90 days or more. |
Jonathan Clay | Oppose | 2025-02-14 |
| HB 2305 Allows a landlord to terminate residential tenancy upon third material violation or late payment upon 30 days' notice with no right to cure. |
Zach Lindahl | Support | 2025-02-14 |
| HB 2967 Prohibits residential landlords from charging an applicant screening charge. |
Zach Lindahl | Oppose | 2025-02-14 |
| HB 2400 Allows the owner of property outside an urban growth boundary to site an additional dwelling on the property for occupancy by a relative of the owner. |
Jonathan Clay | Support | 2025-02-10 |
| SB 814 Modifies eligibility criteria for the long-term rental assistance program for certain individuals under 25 years of age. |
Jonathan Clay | Support | 2025-02-05 |
| HB 2074 Extends the sunset date for the partial property tax exemption for the property of vertical housing development projects. |
Jonathan Clay | Support | 2025-02-04 |
| HB 2077 Extends the sunset date for the property tax exemption for nonprofit corporation low income housing. |
Jonathan Clay | Support | 2025-02-04 |
| HB 2078 Extends the sunset date for the property tax exemption for multiunit rental housing. |
Jonathan Clay | Support | 2025-02-04 |
2023
7 testimonies
| Bill | Name | Position | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| SB 611 Caps annual rent increases for residential tenancies. |
Deborah Imse | Oppose | 2023-06-20 |
| SB 611 Caps annual rent increases for residential tenancies. |
Brendan Romtvedt | Oppose | 2023-03-20 |
| SB 67 Creates income tax credit for lost rental income of landlord, forgone due to prohibition on evictions and rent nonpayment actions during COVID-19 emergency period. |
Molly McGrew | Support | 2023-02-20 |
| HB 2889 Amends Oregon Housing Needs Analysis and land use requirements for local governments related to urbanization. |
Deborah Imse | Unknown | 2023-02-17 |
| HB 2889 Amends Oregon Housing Needs Analysis and land use requirements for local governments related to urbanization. |
Deborah Imse | Unknown | 2023-02-16 |
| HB 2889 Amends Oregon Housing Needs Analysis and land use requirements for local governments related to urbanization. |
Deborah Imse | Unknown | 2023-02-16 |
| HB 2889 Amends Oregon Housing Needs Analysis and land use requirements for local governments related to urbanization. |
Deborah Imse | Neutral | 2023-02-06 |
2021
2 testimonies
| Bill | Name | Position | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| SB 291 Requires landlords who require applicant screening charges to adopt certain written screening criteria made available to applicants before accepting application. |
Michael Havlik | Oppose | 2021-03-11 |
| HB 2372 Eliminates landlord's ability to terminate residential tenancy without cause. |
Deborah Imse | Oppose | 2021-03-02 |