Costly Compliance: Stipulated Agreements in Oregon's Nonpayment Eviction Cases (2024)
In Oregon, stipulated agreements are court-enforced agreements that dictate the terms and conditions under which an eviction case can be dismissed. Stipulated agreements are court-enforced agreements that landlords and tenants enter into during the course of the eviction process instead of going to trial. If all the terms of the agreement are not met, the landlord can seek a swift judgment of eviction against the tenant. These types of agreements are often touted as a successful form of post-filing eviction diversion; however, very little is known about the terms and outcomes of these cases. We conclude that stipulated agreements are a costly option for tenants. They are costly to comply with, because landlords can include terms and conditions that they would otherwise not be able to get from the tenant through the eviction legal process. These terms can include repayment for more than the amount owed listed on the notice of termination; the costs of court fees; behavioral concessions; and more. They are also costly when the tenant is unable to comply with all the terms included in an agreement, because the landlord can quickly get a judgment of eviction issued for noncompliance.
Key Findings
Between October, 2022 and March, 2024, 37% of nonpayment eviction cases filed in Oregon included a stipulated agreement.
Around one-in-four stipulated agreements ended in a judgment of eviction for noncompliance.
Stay-and-pay agreements were more likely to end in a judgment of eviction than move out agreements.
In 90% of the stay-and-pay agreements, tenants were required to pay more than the amount to cure listed on their notice of termination.
At least 60% of the stay-and-pay agreements included future rent payments as a condition of the agreement.
General Information
Researchers: Colleen Carrol, Dr. Minji Cho, and Dr. Lisa K. Bates.
Funding: Evicted in Oregon’s research is supported by Oregon Housing and Community Services Department, Portland Housing Bureau, and the technical assistance of Oregon Law Center. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this report do not necessarily reflect the views of funders or technical assistance partners.
Citation Details: Carroll, Colleen; Cho, Minji; and Bates, Lisa K., "Costly Compliance: Stipulated Agreements in Oregon’s Nonpayment Eviction Cases" (2025). Urban Studies and Planning Faculty Publications and Presentations.
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/44218