There ARE 12-month leases in Portland...right??? (Corvallis, Grants Pass: apartment complex, rental)

[Mr. Ronnie James]

I'll be moving to Portland this fall. You think the job situation is tough up there?...try living and looking for work in Grants Pass! (Most people have just quit looking and are living off of family...or "working the system".)

When I rent, I want a 12-month lease. A year goes by SO FAST!
Nevada?...It was always a 12-month lease. California...It was always a 12-month lease. When I moved to southern Oregon, many property managers tried to "sell me" a month-to-month lease! I was shocked!

I told them...
"WHY would I want a month-to-month? A year goes by so fast. My stuff is in storage. I'm staying at a motel. My credit is good. I'm looking for stability...not "temporary" housing."

I DON'T want a month-to-month because:
a) They can evict you whenever they want to.
b) They can raise your rent whenever they want to.

There ARE 12-month leases in Portland, right?
Your input is most appreciated.

Ronnie

[sayulita]

I can only speak for myself but I rented out my house on a 12 month lease.

[gatorman]

Yes the 12 month lease is out there and is best for you if you want stability.

Assert your needs when negotiating, just be prepared to walk until you find the right rental agreement for you.

good luck

[PHXtoPDX]

If I had to guess, you're being offered month-to-month because you're unemployed. From the manager's perspective, they're not sure you'll actually be able to make your rent payments for the entire year, but they still want the business.

I can confirm that there are 12-month leases in the Portland-metro area. I just signed one on a 1 bedroom apartment at the end of June.

[burnhams]

Most place will offer a 12 month lease, sometimes at a reduced rate. With the economy the way it is I think most landlords prefer to lock people do to a year.

[Mr. Ronnie James]

I'm not unemployed. I'm self-employed.
And I keep copies of my rent payment stubs.
I have over 3 years of current rent payment verifications.
They're not doing me a favor...I'm doing THEM a favor!

Most landlords? They're slumlords!
Many of them view tenants as "transients". Why?
Because this view helps "justify" their neglect of the property....as though we're not "worthy".

Trust me, I know.

[Sprightly]

You'd be hard pressed to get a month-to-month lease if you wanted one here. I'd honestly like the flexibility, but the lowered rent for signing a long-term lease is too big an incentive. If you rent at any apartment complex that is professionally managed they'll gladly rope you into an eighteen month lease which has massive penalties for breaking it! The reason it's not great from my POV is sometimes you find out things that make you want to move after the first month that weren't obvious before you signed the lease but then you are stuck.

[PHXtoPDX]

Originally Posted by Mr. Ronnie James

I'm not unemployed. I'm self-employed.

My apologies, I saw you write about looking for work in Grant's Pass and assumed.

[OregonDaisy]

We just moved 2 months ago to a much better neighborhood and we signed a 12 month lease as well.

[TechmanOR]

huh? 12mo is the norm, even for apartments. For houses, some HOAs REQUIRE an annual lease. When renting is managed by a property management company, pre-payment of one month's worth of rent is common, so that if you don't pay your rent, they can give you a 30 day eviction notice and won't lose out on rent during that period.

I don't know about Portland, but 10mo is an option common in Corvallis. It maybe common in areas commonly occupied by students.