Attn: Spokane Landlords

[Bettina F.]

I was at a meeting of Northwest Grassroots last night, and heard an update on issues before the Spokane City Council.  Spokane is expanding the role and staff of the Spokane Human Rights Commission.  The Spokane City Council will also be considering the implementation of new, more restrictive landlord/tenant ordinances including prohibiting "discrimination" by payor class, mandatory acceptance of the first qualified tenant, rental property inspections and other new rules.  The presenter described this as "similar to the new LL/tenant laws they have implemented in Seattle." 

If you disagree with the implementation of these new laws (guaranteed  to  provide some work for the newly expanded Human Rights Commission!) be ready to let your city councilman know your position.  You can find the name of your city councilman and watch for city council agendas, so you have an opportunity to speak, at my.spokanecity.org/citycouncil.  I urge Spokane LL to get involved now to stop the implementation of these new laws.  I live and LL in Idaho, so it is (not yet) my fight.

[Dan G.]

Thanks @Bettina F.

WA state in general is facing a lot of new changes with LL/Tenant Laws.

I spoke with an attorney about 2 new changes being implemented this summer:

1) Landlords will not be allowed to deny  renting to section 8 voucher holders, based on the prospective tenant being  a voucher holder. (Make sure to have a detailed written out criteria).  If Section is not your rental goal talk to your attorney for advice.

2) Tenant criteria will not be able to include "we won't rent to felons".  It was argued in WA state that certain n ethnicities are more likely to be involved with crime.  So based on that if a landlord says they won't rent to felons, it can be considered racial discrimination. 

A local law school is also hiring law students to call rental adds and ask those 2 questions.  If the LL says no to either one they can get penalized.   I think you should never discriminate to/against anyone.  This is offered just to keep fellow investors aware with new changes. I'm not an attorney and this is not legal advice.  I would definitely recommend talking to an attrnoy pertaining these new changes if they affect you  (: 

Here is a link that goes directly to the council members the one Bettina listed is a general page: https://my.spokanecity.org/citycouncil/members/

Also if you live in Spokane, find the council member in your district and give them a call, and or email and tell them what you think about the changes Bettina mentioned.  The City council meetings are also open to the public and every attending person is allowed 3 min of citizens input to the council.  If anyone is interested in going I can add the info to that.  In my experience the amount of people that go is either 0 or close to 0.