Landlord Tenant Law

What Renters Should Know About Tenant Right to Counsel and Eviction Law in Washington

For more than a year since the COVID-19 pandemic, Washington renters who have been unable to pay their rent have at least been safe from being evicted. As of this writing, bills for that unpaid rent will come due July 1 for tens of thousands of Washingtonians. However, changes to Washington’s landlord-tenant law have created new protections to help people avoid evictions, mediate disputes with landlords, and guarantee that certain renters have free legal representation. On April 22, Gov. Jay Inslee signed into law Senate Bill 5160. Originally sponsored by state Sen. Patty Kuderer, D-Bellevue, the legislation adds a number of tenant protections such as “providing for legal representation in eviction cases, establishing an eviction resolution pilot program for nonpayment of rent cases, and authorizing landlord access to certain rental assistance programs,” according to the final bill report.

Eviction Resolution Program Gears Up as Washington’s Eviction Moratorium Nears Expiration

There’s a phrase you’ll hear a lot when you talk to people involved with Washington’s new Eviction Resolution Program (ERP): it’s a win-win-win. It’s a win for landlords who can recoup lost earnings from renters. It’s a win for courts ill equipped to handle what is expected to be an unprecedented crush of unlawful detainer cases (evictions). More than anything, it’s a win for the public, giving vulnerable renters desperately needed support with some of their basic survival needs as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt daily life.

Seattle Landlords Now Required to Register Property and Submit to an Inspection

Learn about Seattle’s new Rental Registration and Inspection Ordinance. In a city that prides itself on being socially progressive, the American Housing Survey found that “nearly 10 percent of Seattle area rental housing had ‘moderate to severe’ physical problems.” This prompted the city of Seattle to implement a new ordinance, the Rental Registration and Inspection […]