Security deposit interest in Oregon
No — Oregon does not require landlords to pay interest on security deposits.
There is no interest to calculate — here is what does apply
Oregon sets no interest requirement, so there is no figure to work out. The rules below are the ones that decide whether you get your deposit back in full, which is usually the larger sum anyway.
Deadline to return your deposit
31 days after the tenancy ends.
Miss it and the consequences below start to apply.
What to do next
- Give your landlord a written forwarding address. Several states make the return duty conditional on it, and Oregon's rules are summarised below.
- Photograph the unit at move-out, dated, before you hand back the keys. The dispute is almost always about condition.
- If the deadline passes, put the request in writing and cite Or. Rev. Stat. Sec. 90.300. Keep a copy of what you sent and when.
Not legal advice. This is general information, not legal advice. Security deposit laws change and vary by jurisdiction. Verify with the cited statute or consult a licensed attorney in your state before taking action.
What does Oregon law actually say?
Oregon does not require landlords to pay interest on residential security deposits. The statute contains no interest provision and imposes no escrow or separate account requirement, and there is no statutory cap on the deposit amount. The landlord may not require a deposit or last month's rent within the first year of a tenancy unless the amount is agreed in writing, and may not increase a deposit during the first year except by written agreement where the tenancy changes.
Any increase must be paid over at least three months. The deposit may be applied only to unpaid rent, damages the landlord suffered from the tenant's noncompliance, and the cost of cleaning, repairs or replacement beyond ordinary wear and tear. Where the landlord requires a deposit for a pet, no additional deposit may be charged for an assistance animal.
Within 31 days of termination and delivery of possession the landlord must give the tenant a written accounting of any amounts applied, together with the balance owed. A landlord who does not conduct a required move-in condition documentation cannot claim for pre-existing damage.
What if your landlord does not comply?
No interest obligation, so no interest penalty. A landlord who fails to provide the written accounting and refund within 31 days is liable to the tenant for twice the amount wrongfully withheld. Bad faith retention exposes the landlord to further damages, and the prevailing party may recover reasonable attorney fees under Section 90.255.