Local Government Update: April 2023
Date postedApril 12, 2023
Legislative Session is almost over, but your RHAWA Government Affairs team is still hard at work fighting to maintain your rights as small housing providers. Many of you have helped with our statewide advocacy efforts this year and we are so grateful for your support. However, it is important to keep in mind that changes to rental laws in your local governments continue to disrupt our industry. Bellingham and SeaTac have implemented renter protections recently. As RHAWA strives to keep you updated on all changes in rental laws big and small, this article will provide a comprehensive update on all recent local changes.
Bellingham:
Extended Notice Periods
Notice of increased rent. Before increasing rent, landlords must tell their renters:
- 120 days in advance for ANY rent increase
SeaTac:
Mandatory Disclosure
The new rules will require that landlords give renters a summary of all the existing rules in state and federal law that a landlord and a renter must follow. This summary will be prepared by SeaTac staff and will provide information related to:
- Maintenance of rentals homes.
- Evictions.
- Responsibilities of renters.
- The rights of landlords and renters.
The landlord will have to give the summary to renters when a rental agreement is signed.
Fee Caps
Move-in fees. The move-in fee does not have to be paid all at once. The total amount of the move-in fee cannot be more than one month’s rent.
- If a renter is renting for six months or more, the move-in fee can be paid over the first six months.
- If a renter is renting for less than six months, half the move-in fee can be paid at move-in. The other half is paid on the first day of the second month.
Late fees. If the rent payment is late, the “late fees” cannot be more than 2% of the monthly rental rate.
Extended Notice Periods
Notice of increased rent. Before increasing rent, landlords must tell their renters:
- 120 days beforehand if the rent will increase by more than three percent (3%).
- 180 days beforehand if the rent will increase by more than ten percent (10%).
Rent due date. If a renter is on a fixed income (e.g., social security), the renter and landlord will adjust the due date for each month to allow the renter to pay rent on time.
Uninhabitable units. Landlords cannot increase rent for units that are uninhabitable. Landlords cannot increase rent for units if the landlord does not maintain the unit as required by state law.
SSN Requirement Ban
A landlord cannot require a social security number from a renter or a prospective renter.
Just Cause Evictions
A landlord must have a valid business license to evict a renter. Landlords can only evict a renter for a “just cause” reason. The following list is a summary of just cause reasons for a landlord to evict a renter.
- Actions by the renter. A just cause reason for eviction exists if the renter:
- Does not pay rent for 14-days after receiving notice that rent is past due.
- Repeatedly fails to pay rent on time (four or more times in a 12-month period).
- Breaks a term in the rental agreement (e.g., does not remove trash from the rental unit) and does not comply within 10-days.
- Repeatedly fails to meet terms in the rental agreement (three or more times in a 12-month period).
- Engages in drug-related or criminal activity.
- Resigns from a job working on the property, which was the reason the landlord rented the unit to the renter.
- The owner / landlord. A just cause reason for eviction exists if the landlord or owner:
- Intends to renovate the building, provides 120-days’ notice to the renter, and obtains a construction permit for the work.
- Intends to demolish the building or intends to convert the building to a non-residential use, provides 120 days’ notice to the renter, and obtains a permit for the work.
- Must halt use of the unit to comply with zoning, building, public safety, or emergency orders by the City of SeaTac (e.g. the building is unsafe to occupy).
- Currently lives in the rental unit with the renter and wants the renter to move out.