Legal and housingLane County
Lane County Tenant Rights Guide
For an eviction court case, call the Eviction Defense Project (888-585-9638) before your first court date; for repairs in Eugene, call the City’s rental housing program; for other problems, start with Lane County Legal Aid or SETA’s tenant hotline.
Right now
Who to call, by problem
Page assembled Oct 14, 7:59 PM
Keep the case number and hearing date, call legal help before your first court date, and still go to court. Applying for rent help does not stop a case by itself.
You have eviction court papers
- Eviction Defense Project · 888-585-9638Free legal help for eligible low-income tenants with an eviction court case. Have the case number and hearing date ready.Limits: Does not pay rent. Call before your first court appearance and before signing any agreement.Hours: Submit an intake request promptly | response time and representation are not guaranteed.Source checked Oct 11: eviction legal intake, phone and limits.Provider / official source
- Mon–Fri 9 a.m.–5 p.m.closed 11:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m.Lane County Legal Aid (Oregon Law Center) · 101 E Broadway, Suite 200, Eugene · 541-485-1017Free civil legal help for low-income Lane County residents, including housing cases.Limits: Cases are taken by priority after an assessment; representation is not guaranteed.Directory / earlier record: Last checked Jun 4Source checked Oct 11: phone, address, hours and civil legal screening.Provider / official source
- Oregon Eviction Prevention Rapid Response · 833-746-8167Rent money for eligible households with an active eviction court case.Next intake, by the posted rule: Monday, November 2 at 9 a.m.Limits: Not legal help. Intake closes when the month’s capacity is reached, and applying is not approval.Hours: Applications open at 9:00am on the first business day of each month and close when monthly capacity is reachedDirectory / earlier record: Checked Aug 6Source checked Oct 11: phone, active-case requirement, intake rule and biennium limit.No prior program assistance in July 2025–June 2027. Leave full name, phone, full address, date of birth and eviction case number. Applying does not confirm payment or stop a hearing.Provider / official source
Put repair requests in writing and keep a copy, with photos and every notice you receive.
Repairs, deposits, or a notice from your landlord
- City of Eugene Rental Housing Program · 99 W 10th Ave, Eugene · 541-682-8282Takes complaints about heat, plumbing, electrical, weatherproofing, security, and other code problems in Eugene rentals.Limits: Covers rentals inside Eugene city limits. Notify your landlord in writing first.Hours: In person Mon–Fri noon–4 p.m.Source checked Oct 11: phone, address, in-person hours and complaint guidance.Provider / official source
- Springfield Eugene Tenant Association (SETA) · 541-972-3715Tenant hotline with plain-language help on notices, screening, deposits, and landlord letters. Leave a voicemail with a short description.Limits: Not a law office; callbacks can take 24 hours or longer.Hours: Voicemail may be left at any time | callbacks may take 24 hours or longerDirectory / earlier record: Checked Jul 31Source checked Oct 11: tenant hotline phone and callback guidance.Provider / official source
- Senior Law Service · 101 E Broadway Ste 200 · 541-485-1017Free civil legal help for adults 60 and older. Ask for extension 131.Hours: Legal Aid office: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM | closed 11:45 AM-12:45 PM. Senior Law appointments are scheduled separately with the program or outreach site.Directory / earlier record: Last checked Apr 13Source checked Oct 11: civil legal program ages 60+ and extension 131.Ask for the correct clinic appointment location; the Legal Aid office address is not a guaranteed drop-in clinic.Provider / official source
- Lane County Law Library · 125 E 8th Ave (basement), Eugene · (541) 682-4337Public law library where you can read Oregon landlord-tenant law and find court forms.Limits: Staff can help you find materials but cannot give legal advice.Hours: Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; staff unavailable noon–1 p.m.Directory / earlier record: Checked Jul 31Source checked Oct 11: library address, public hours and self-help materials.Staff break noon–1 p.m.; the library remains open without staff. The earlier phone record is retained separately.Provider / official source
Discrimination or a disability accommodation
- Fair Housing Council of Oregon · 800-424-3247 ext. 2Help recognizing and reporting housing discrimination, plus forms for disability accommodation and modification requests. Phone interpreters are available.Hours: Phone questions: Thursday 9:00 AM-noon. Online inquiry link available. Portland walk-ins: Monday 9:00 AM-1:00 PM only if capacity permits | no Tuesday-Friday walk-ins.Source checked Oct 11: discrimination assistance and phone extension.Provider / official source
- Disability Rights Oregon · 900 SW 5th Ave Ste 1800, Portland · (503) 243-2081Disability-related legal intake for Oregon residents; use the online help request and review its case priorities.Limits: Cannot find housing or provide financial assistance; individual representation depends on scope and priorities.Hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM–11:00 AM and 1:00 PM–4:00 PM (phone) | by appointment only, no walk-insDirectory / earlier record: Last checked Jun 4Source checked Oct 11: disability legal intake scope and exclusions.DRO cannot find housing or provide financial assistance. Its intake priorities may exclude your case; the earlier phone was not reconfirmed.Provider / official source
Finding or paying for a lawyer
- Mon–Fri 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.Oregon State Bar Lawyer Referral Service · 503-684-3763Private-lawyer referral: 503-684-3763 or 800-452-7636. Initial consultation up to 30 minutes costs no more than $50; later services have separate fees.Directory / earlier record: Last checked Jun 8Source checked Oct 11: referral phones, hours and initial consultation cost.Provider / official source
- Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–5 PMModest Means Program (Oregon State Bar) · 503-684-3763Reduced-fee lawyers for some cases, including rental housing trials, depending on income and assets.Directory / earlier record: Checked Jul 25Source checked Oct 11: referral phone and reduced-fee eligibility/scope.Eligibility depends on income, assets, case type and lawyer availability. Further legal work has fees.Provider / official source
- Access the Law · 1245 Pearl St, Suite 1, Eugene · 541-686-4890Sliding-fee civil legal services in Eugene, including housing cases. Ask about case acceptance and fees.Hours: Mon-Fri: 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM, 1:00 - 5:00 PM | Sat-Sun: ClosedDirectory / earlier record: Checked Aug 6Source checked Oct 11: phone, address and sliding-fee civil services.Ask for fee screening and case acceptance; eviction-record expungement was not confirmed.Provider / official source
- Online (asynchronous)Free Legal Answers (Oregon)Ask a civil legal question online; volunteer lawyers answer in writing.Directory / earlier record: Checked Jul 25Source checked Oct 11: online civil legal questions for eligible low-income users.Provider / official source
Official sources
For laws, fees, and document rules, go to the source. LaneHelp links to these pages but does not give legal advice.
- ORS chapter 90: Residential Landlord and Tenant
The full text of Oregon’s landlord-tenant law.
- OregonLawHelp.org: Housing
Plain-language articles on rentals, evictions, and housing rights.
- Oregon Judicial Department: Landlord and Tenant forms
Court forms for eviction cases.
- Oregon Housing and Community Services: Renter Resources
The state housing agency’s page for renters, including eviction and discrimination contacts.
- City of Eugene Renter Resources
Rental standards and the repair complaint process for Eugene rentals.
- Fair Housing Council of Oregon: Renters
Renter rights, discrimination complaints, and accommodation forms.
Questions
Questions people ask
Where can I get free legal help for an eviction in Eugene?
If you have an eviction court case, call the Eviction Defense Project at 888-585-9638; it gives free help to eligible low-income tenants and wants to hear from you before your first court date. Lane County Legal Aid (101 E Broadway, Suite 200; 541-485-1017) handles civil cases for low-income residents.
Who do I call about repairs my landlord will not make in Eugene?
Put the request in writing to your landlord and keep a copy. If it is not fixed, the City of Eugene Rental Housing Program (541-682-8282) takes complaints about heat, plumbing, electrical, weatherproofing, and other code problems in Eugene rentals. SETA’s tenant hotline (541-972-3715) can talk you through the letter.
Where can I read Oregon’s tenant laws?
Oregon’s residential landlord and tenant law is ORS chapter 90, on the Oregon Legislature’s website. OregonLawHelp.org explains it in plain language, and the Oregon Judicial Department posts the court forms for eviction cases. LaneHelp links to these sources but does not give legal advice.
What if a landlord discriminated against me?
Contact the Fair Housing Council of Oregon at 800-424-3247 ext. 2. It helps renters recognize and report housing discrimination and has forms for disability accommodation requests.
Is there free legal help for older renters in Lane County?
Senior Law Service gives free civil legal help to adults 60 and older; call 541-485-1017 and ask for extension 131.