The Rent Well course is a 15-hour tenant education course that teaches students about their rights and responsibilities as renters. Students who complete the eCourse and the feedback form automatically receive a Certificate of Attendance.
However, as students have also seen throughout the course, there is a focus on having students complete a personalized housing portfolio. The Housing Portfolio would include a completed sample rental application, a finalized cover letter, copies of the student's ID and income documents, letters of reference, any other additional documentation they feel a landlord would like to see, and lastly, their Rent Well Graduation Certificate. This Graduation Certificate is the certificate that is paired with the Rent Guarantee Fund. This means they have completed the 15 hours of coursework and the housing portfolio, making them eligible for the Rent Guarantee Program.
The Rent Guarantee Program assists Oregon landlords who rent to a Rent Well graduate. If a landlord registers the Rent Guarantee associated with the Rent Well Graduation Certificate, and the graduate leaves their rental within the first 12 months owing any unpaid rent, damages, or eviction costs beyond the amount that the security deposit would cover, the Rent Guarantee Program promises to pay up to $5000 beyond the security deposit to the landlord on behalf of the graduate.
Simply put:
- The Certificate of Attendance = the student completed all eCourse sections and the feedback form, but didn't submit a Housing Portfolio; they don't have access to the Rent Guarantee Fund.
- The Rent Well Graduation Certificate = indicates that the student completed all eCourse sections, the feedback form, created a Housing Portfolio, and has access to the Rent Guarantee Fund.