Oregon Public Broadcasting

Multnomah County Commissioners are considering new rules for rental units in unincorporated parts of the county. April Baer reports the proposals are meant to reduce health risks for renters.

Multnomah County's Environmental Health Department has drawn up a system for filing complaints about problem rentals.   

Oregon landlords with buildings on unincorporated turf don't generally have to abide by the rules and inspections that city landlords follow.

That leaves renters vulnerable to pests, mold, lead paint contamination, and fire hazards.

At the first reading of the proposed rules, environmental health department head Lila Wickham said tenants face real dangers. 

Lila Wickham   "Childhood lead poisoning, respiratory diseases like asthma are really having a significant impact on health. Housing-related environmental health hazards increase if rental housing is not in good repair."

Multnomah County has about 800 units on unincorporated land, most of them single-family dwellings. 

Nearby cities like Gresham and Portland like the proposal to tighten the rules, but some of the county's landlords say that problems with buildings are often caused by renters themselves.

The next reading on the new rules is in early September.