Oregon 30-Hour Real Estate Law Practice Test

Retaliatory evictions are classified as what?

1. Permissible under certain conditions

2. Encouraged during lease disputes

3. Illegal

4. Legal if documented properly

The correct answer is: Illegal

Retaliatory evictions are classified as illegal because they occur when a landlord attempts to evict a tenant in response to the tenant exercising their legal rights, such as reporting violations of housing codes or organizing a tenants' association. Many jurisdictions have specific laws designed to protect tenants from such retaliation, recognizing that it undermines tenants' ability to assert their rights without fear of losing their housing. This legal framework aims to promote fair practices in landlord-tenant relationships and to deter landlords from engaging in tactics that would discourage tenants from seeking enforcement of their rights. Understanding retaliatory evictions as illegal reinforces the importance of tenant protection laws, ensuring that tenants can live in their homes without intimidation or fear of eviction for asserting their rights, which is fundamental to maintaining a just and equitable rental housing market.