With winter quickly approaching in Oregon, one of the top property management topics that renters are searching online is if landlords are required to provide heat in a rental property?

The answer to this question is yes. Under the Implied Warranty of Habitability, landlords are required to provide heat in their rental properties, especially in Oregon, where it snows in much of the state during the winter months.

Heat is seen as a basic human right that most landlords will provide in their rental properties by default but what’s interesting is that in some states it’s not required all year long. For example, in New York, landlords are only required to provide heat from 10/30 to 5/31.

Tips for Getting Your Rental Property Ready for Winter

Since we’ve established that landlords in Oregon are required to provide heat to their rental properties, every landlord in Oregon should get their rental property ready for winter now by following these tips.

Tip 1 – Schedule an HVAC cleaning and tune-up – This costs about $150 but it’s a vital first step towards getting ready for winter since it will ensure that the HVAC unit at your rental property is in perfect running condition.

Tip 2 – Check all doors and windows at your rental – Following the HVAC tune-up; you should also have all windows and doors at your rental property checked to verify that their seals are still in good shape. If the seals need to be replaced, you should replace them ASAP because they will keep the moisture and mold out of your rental property during the winter.

Tip #3 – Reverse Ceiling fans – If your rental property currently has ceiling fans in each room, you should advise your tenants to reverse those fan blades. This tip is important because reversing the direction of ceiling fan blades will push the air down and help to warm your investment property.

Tip #4 – Make sure all smoke alarm and carbon monoxide batteries are changed – Fall is also a great time to instruct your tenants to change the batteries in all of the carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms in your property.

Fires can occur at a moment notice during the winter months and carbon monoxide poisoning is a silent killer so it’s best to get this tip done sooner rather than later.

Contact Rent Portland Homes – Professionals 

To learn more tips, or to speak with us about the property management services we can offer you, contact us today by calling (503) 447-7735 or click here to connect with us online.