Horrible Landlord laws are being proposed in Olympia

[Sharon Rosendahl]

I apologize in advance that the pdf link is through a vendor but I am working on closing the year, month and a lot of other year end stuff and am super busy. Among other horrible things, this seems to require a 6 month rent increase notice if you increase rent by more than 3% and then the tenant can immediately vacate even if there is a lease in place. Their only requirement is they pay you to the point they vacate. No mention of completing the current lease. If increase is less than or equal to 3% then you only have to give 60 days notice.

Late fees would be capped at .05% of the monthly rent. So that would mean $5 per every $1000? Yeah, huge deterrent for being late. 

(5) Late fees for past due rent may not exceed one-half of one
percent of the monthly or periodic rent.

So much frightening stuff going on this term.

http://www.orcainfo-com.com/uploads/HB2779RentControl.pdf

[Curtis Bidwell]

@Sharon Rosendahl We had 250 landlords from across the state at the legislature Friday before last to voice opposition to the Just Cause legislation.  We had another sizeable group for the Landlords Day On The Hill this past Thursday.  We filled the committee room where they were updating the bill to eliminate Criminal History from being considered in your rental criteria.  Our show of solidarity is having an impact, but we need people emailing their legislators and the committee members proposing these damaging bills.  

You MUST be involved and make your voice heard in the legislature, city and county councils.  If you don’t belong to a landlord association, it’s time to join one!  
Washington State Landlord Assoc. https://www.walandlord.org/
Or Rental Housing Association of Washington at https://www.rhawa.org/

Our efforts are only as effective as our input.  Due to our activities I have heard the Criminal history bill is likely to fail.  Not many legislators are ready to fight for rent control in this current session, so it will likely also not get out of committee. 

You can track these bills at: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsum...

Bills we are watching include: 

HB 2520; OPPOSE: addresses excessive documentation to withhold from security deposit

Han 2453; OPPOSE: State wide Just Cause

SHB 2069; SUPPORT: Concerning a property owner's or tenant's liability for delinquent and unpaid utility service charges

SB 6490 OPPOSE: endangers tenants

HB 2779 OPPOSE: Rent Control