Building a stronger, more just & transparent democracy
Building a stronger, more just & transparent democracy
Members of Rental Housing Association of Washington await the first reading of the rent stabilization bill. Many of them travelled hours to Olympia for the chance to testify Jan. 13.
Landlords and property owners gathered under the Capitol dome in Olympia Jan. 13 to protest a bill that would cap increases on rents.
Corey Hjalseth, who is getting ready for retirement with his wife, said the bill will ultimately force them to sell their properties.
"When somebody artificially comes in and tells me how much I can raise the rent or how much I can charge a tenant for a late fee, or that I have to help them with relocation expenses if I raise their rent more than 5%, that's a problem for me." Hjalseth said. "It just doesn't seem fair."
After getting shut down in the Senate last year, primary sponsor Rep. Emily Alvarado, D-Seattle, said she hopes the bill will pass in 2025.
"I think in the last year we've seen the impacts of this bill not passing," Alvarado said. "People have received tremendous rent increases that have destabilized their families, that have forced them to choose between buying medication and keeping the heat on and paying their rent."
The bill puts a 7% cap increase on annual rent increases.
Additionally, if a landlord intends to increase rent or fees by more than 3%, the landlord is required to give a written notice to all tenants within 180 days. Buildings operated by nonprofits and residential construction that are 10 years old or less are exempt.
"We've seen an increase in homelessness," Alvarado said. "More people are being pushed out of their homes, so inaction is not an option. We have to make sure that people have some protections on the single greatest cost in their household budget, which is housing."
Duana Ricks-Johnson, a Colville tribal member, said she was forced to move again for the fifth time in four years due to a rent increase.
"The discrimination in housing stability like ours will continue without rent stabilization to keep landlords and property management from raising rents to evict people of color, like my already victimized family, "Ricks-Johnson said. "Please help stop taking my ability as a parent to provide a basic need – housing stability."
