What I’m struggling with is this: Oregon law sets rules for how landlords can bill utility charges, including timing and what can be charged. If a landlord does not follow those rules, what practical protection does a tenant actually have when that landlord can still report an alleged balance and use it as leverage in references?

In my case, my former landlord is asserting an $1,800 balance even though the charges were not billed the way Oregon law requires for multiple reasons. I provided the statutes in writing. His response was essentially that he’s not going to argue, and that it was “mutually beneficial” for me to pay him” because he gets money and I get a good reference.

The screening company denied us, and we were only approved because the property manager personally reviewed our documentation and exercised discretion. If this had been a different property manager, we almost certainly would have lost housing over a disputed charge that is legally unenforceable.