City of Seattle Forbids Apartment Rent Increases on Units Failing to Meet Basic Requirements

The Seattle City Council has unanimously passed legislation prohibiting landlords from raising rents on units that don’t meet basic maintenance standards.

Approval of the bill was cheered by tenant-rights advocates, who vowed to push an additional bill to cap move-in expenses, saying requiring first and last months’ rent in advance has become unaffordable. Read more in the Seattle Times. 

The law will join the roster of Seattle tenant protection laws, including a once-per-decade required inspection program and relocation assistance requirement.