Can a Landlord Force You to Remodel Before Selling Your Home?
One of the most common questions we receive from manufactured home park and floating home marina tenants is whether a landlord can require expensive upgrades or remodels before allowing a home to be sold in place.
The answer begins with Oregon law.
Oregon Law Distinguishes Between “Disrepair” and “Remodeling”
Many people use terms like repair, remodel, upgrade, or modernize interchangeably. Oregon law does not.
When a home is being sold in place, a landlord’s authority is limited by statute. The law allows a landlord to require certain conditions be corrected if they constitute deterioration or disrepair. It does not give a landlord unlimited authority to require cosmetic improvements, remodeling, or modernization simply because newer homes in the community have different features or appearances.
Because these terms have specific legal meanings, we encourage every tenant preparing to sell a home to read the statutes themselves.
Start with ORS 90.680
ORS 90.680 governs many of the rights and responsibilities of both tenants and landlords during the sale of a manufactured home or floating home.
We encourage tenants to read the entire statute, paying particular attention to:
- ORS 90.680(9)(a)(B)
- ORS 90.680(9)(a)(C)
- ORS 90.680(9)(a)(D)
- ORS 90.680(12)
You can read the statute here:
ORS 90.680 – Oregon Public Law
An Important Change to Oregon Law in 2026
In 2026, Oregon amended ORS 90.680 through House Bill 3054.
One significant change affected ORS 90.680(9)(a)(D). The amendment removed language that previously allowed landlords broader authority to require certain aesthetic or cosmetic changes as part of the sale process.
Because the online version of the Oregon Revised Statutes does not immediately reflect recently enacted legislation, tenants may wish to review the enrolled bill text itself.
You can read House Bill 3054 here:
On page 5, the bill shows the legislative changes. Italicized text indicates language removed from the statute, while bold text indicates language that was added.
We also encourage tenants to review the remaining amendments contained in the bill, as several changes may affect the sale of a home in a manufactured home park or floating home marina.
What Is “Disrepair”?
Another important statute is ORS 90.505, which defines key terms used throughout Oregon’s Manufactured Dwelling Park and Marina laws, including disrepair and deterioration.
“Deterioration”:
- Includes a collapsing or failing staircase or railing, one or more holes in a wall or roof, an inadequately supported window air conditioning unit, falling gutters, siding or skirting, or paint that is peeling or faded as to threaten the useful life or integrity of the siding.
- Does not include aesthetic or cosmetic concerns.
“Disrepair”:
- Means the state of being in need of repair because a component is broken, collapsing, creating a safety hazard or generally in need of maintenance.
- Includes the need to correct a failure to conform with applicable building and housing codes at the time of:
- Installation of the manufactured dwelling or floating home on the site.
- Making improvements to the manufactured dwelling or floating home following installation.
Understanding these definitions is essential because they establish the legal standard that may apply when a landlord raises concerns about the condition of a home being sold.
You can read ORS 90.505 here:
ORS 90.505 – Oregon Public Law
Older Does Not Mean Out of Compliance
Many homes in Oregon’s manufactured home parks and floating home marinas are decades old. Age alone does not mean a home must be remodeled before it can be sold.
A home that is well maintained may not resemble newly constructed homes in the same community—and Oregon law does not automatically require it to.
Understanding the difference between maintaining a home and remodeling a home can help tenants have informed conversations and better understand their rights during the sale process.
Knowledge Is One of Your Best Tools
Selling a home can feel overwhelming, especially when significant repair or remodeling demands are made. Taking time to read the statutes yourself can help you better understand the legal framework governing manufactured home parks and floating home marinas in Oregon.
The more tenants understand Oregon law, the better prepared they are to ask informed questions, protect their investments, and confidently navigate the sale of their homes.
It is important to understand that laws change. This information is not intended to be legal advice and it is not intended to replace the work of an attorney.
