Updates from OSU Student Affairs & Rental Assistance Info for Tenants in the Corvallis Area
UPDATE: September 23rd
Students are back in Corvallis and classes started today. There has been a noticeable change in vehicle traffic around town. It is great to see downtown restaurants’ outdoor seating full of people the last few days as we hope that will have a positive effect on the local economy. Rentals homes and apartments are still available – it appears that there are more than normal for this time of year, but not an alarming amount. If you have rental that is vacant, and have considered selling, this is the time! The rental market has softened, but buyer demand is still sky high – especially for campus area properties and starter homes – $300k-450k range.
September 3rd, 2020
I listened in on this discussion between the Student Affairs team at OSU and property management companies on September 2nd. Here are my takeaways:
- Students will start filtering back to town over the next 2 weeks.
- On-campus housing (dorms) will be about 50% or less capacity as they are not requiring freshman student sot live on campus (the intention is freshman should live on campus or stay at their current living situation for distance learning).
- They expect 70-90% of students to return to the Corvallis area.
- Their policy for physical distancing is more stringent than the State’s. The student code says that groups of more than 10 in a social setting indoor or outdoor, on-or-off campus is against the student code.
- They will be doing a public outreach campaign with signage available for landlords about safety.
The general consensus of property managers on local trends (also based on a couple recent conversations beyond this forum):
- More vacancies than they have seen in many years on September 1.
- It hasn’t fallen off a cliff but is “soft.”
- Homes that have traditionally been “student rentals” are renting to families and non-students.
- Newer/updated homes are getting more attention.
Lastly, if you know anyone struggling with rent or landlords that have tenants who can’t pay locally, there is help. This is a notice from the Linn-Benton Rental Housing Association:
There is money for Rent Available.
CSC is working with trusted partners in Linn, Benton, and Lincoln counties to help potential applicants perform eligibility screening and complete application packets for CSC assistance. Please see the attached flyers in English and Spanish to identify which partners can provide this assistance in your service area.
If you have a tenant struggling to pay rent due to Covid-19, send them this flyer, there is help for them.
COVID Rental Asst Flyer 6-20.pdf
Span COVID Rental Asst Flyer 6-20.pdf
CSC is doing everything they can to get rent assistance for your tenants. They keep running into roadblocks when the tenant does their paperwork, but some landlords are not turning in in their part of the paperwork.
This is a fair housing violation based on source of income.
Please everyone encourage your tenants to apply for assistance if they are not able to pay rent and do your part and turn in the documentation.
Are you looking to sell your home in the Mid-Willamette Valley? Get in touch with us and we’ll set up a an appointment and a home valuation in the current market.
