Seeking Lawyer - Landlording Laws 101

[Brandon Harris]

Hello,

I'm looking for a resource to learn about the Portland landlord laws for small scale landlords. I have heard that there are some lawyers who will charge a flat fee of $250, meet with you to explain the rental rules, and provide some hard copy resources. We also have a specific question about 1 part of our house that isn't quite up to code, but we aren't sure if it is a big deal or if we need to dish out some cash to fix it. I know that most items are grandfathered in if you live somewhere, but once you rent it out then the property is held to higher standards. 

I'm wondering if we didn't fix the code issue would umbrella insurance cover it or do they typically deny those types of claims because the item isn't up to code. The issue isn't like live wires sticking out of a wall. It's more like ceiling height is too low and someone bumps their head kind of thing.

Does anyone know any lawyers who do this kind of thing? Or are there any other resources that people know of? I want to make sure I understand the rental laws in Portland, but I also don't want to spend the time combing through the City code so I'll pay a bit to get the knowledge from someone.

Thanks!

[Brandon Harris]

@Chris Shepard Thanks Chris. I appreciate the information from someone who owns and manages properties. I've been running around my house with my tape measurer checking everything, so this gives me some peace of mind!