Tenants at a Southeast Portland apartment complex are mounting a rent strike after they say their landlord raised rents while failing to address maintenance concerns.

Twenty-five residents of Holgate Manor, an 81-unit complex near Southeast 36th Place and Holgate Boulevard, say they won't pay rent until a series of code violations are addressed. The residents have complained of pest infestations, mold, leaks and other damage that's gone unrepaired, and a city inspector determined parts of the complex were in violation of city code.

Participating tenants, backed by the tenants rights organization Portland Tenants United, announced the rent strike outside Portland City Hall on Wednesday morning.

"We don't want to cost them monetarily," said Holgate Manor resident Sara Brassfield. "We want them to understand the cost of renting us homes that aren't 100 percent habitable, especially when they're giving us rent increases."

State Rep. Rob Nosse, a Democrat who represents the residents' district, spoke Wednesday morning in support of the strike.

"These tenants are engaging in a righteous struggle and fight," he said, adding that the owner of the complex should allow them to stay.

Willamette Week wrote about the uncertainty at the apartment community in March. The newspaper also first reported the planned rent strike on Tuesday.

Attorneys caution against withholding rent because it can backfire if tenants don't follow steps outlined in state law. It also "almost guarantees" the landlord will attempt to evict the tenant, according to the Oregon State Bar.

The residents said they'll pay into an escrow account during the strike. They hope the strike will bring their property manager to the negotiating table, but they could also end up facing an eviction in court, where they can plead their case before a judge.

In that event, the city code violations and money placed in escrow should protect them from eviction, said Margot Black, an organizer for Portland Tenants United.

The striking residents said they've have been at odds with the building's owner, Fred Kleinbub of La Jolla, California, since early this year. Shortly after he bought the complex for $12 million in January, property managers announced plans for renovations.

Through Princeton Property Management of Portland, Kleinbub in March offered to pay residents up to $5,500 to vacate ahead of renovation work. The company said residents could return once the work is complete at discounted rates, though the discount would last only for one year.

Residents who didn't take the payment, however, said their rents were increased 9.9 percent this year -- just under the threshold beyond which landlords must compensate tenants for relocation costs under city code.

The apartment complex, which had offered uncommonly low rates for the neighborhood, attracted a diverse community, some of whom are immigrants who don't speak English.

"Immigrants and refugees coming to our community need to be able to stay and not be pushed out," Black said.

A public relations firm that had represented Kleinbub earlier said it was no longer in touch with him and declined to provide contact information. He could not be directly reached; Princeton Property Management's phone went unanswered Wednesday morning.

-- Elliot Njus

enjus@oregonian.com

503-294-5034

@enjus