Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Oregon

My cousin and I are moving from Minnesota to Oregon in two weeks, and the landlord at the house we'll be living at asked us to send a $700 deposit before we get there. He told us that he could send us an email with the rental terms and put the last 4 digits of his SS number in place of the signature, but he said mailing it through the postal service would take too long (and he doesn't have fax or a scanner). My questions are: Does the last 4 digits of the social security number work as a substitute for a written signature? and, Is there a way I can send him the money anyway, maybe by writing something on the check itself or getting a cashiers check, so that the deal will be legally binding? We've talked to the landlord over the phone and he seems fine, but we just want to know that we're safe if any funny business comes up, like if he tried to just keep the money and not give us the room, for instance.


Asked on 8/17/10, 3:33 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Susan Burns Law Office of Susan Ford Burns

This sounds like a scam. The last 4 digits of someone's social security number mean nothing. Besides, how would you know that they were actually this "landlord's" social security number anyway?

If you are not moving for 2 weeks, there is plenty of time for the landlord to send you a signed rental agreement for your signature. Overnight mail will get there overnight. You can send it back the same way. Funny how there is plenty of time for your money to get to the landlord, but not enough time for a rental agreement to get to you.

Do NOT send someone money without a signed rental agreement. You don't even know if the property or the rooms even exist. This "Landlord" could certainly keep your money and not give you a room.

It is much safer to come to Oregon, rent cheap motel for a few nights while you actually see the rooms for rent and talk to a landlord in person. The rental market in Oregon isn't that good for landlords - there are plenty of places available for rent.

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Answered on 8/23/10, 10:02 am


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