Testimony is needed!

SB 722:

Bans rent and occupancy software and applies rent caps to younger rentals. Reduces from 15 to 7 years the duration that new dwelling units are exempt from caps on residential rent increases.

• Public hearing Wednesday, 3/19 at 1 pm in Hearing Room E
• Submit Written Testimony by 1 pm Friday, March 21
• Register to Testify in person or remotely by 12:30 pm on Wednesday, 3/19

SB 54:

Makes landlords provide cooling. Requires that residential tenants be provided with indoor cooling or cooling spaces for multiunit buildings with 10 units or more. Requires, by January 1, 2036, that all landlords provide indoor cooling. Makes cooling an “essential service” for residential tenants. Sunsets, on January 1, 2036, the requirement that the Housing and Community Services Department provide cooling information for landlords. Sunsets, on January 1, 2036, the requirement that the State Department of Energy offer grants to landlords to provide community cooling spaces.

• Public hearing Wednesday, 3/19 at 1 pm in Hearing Room E
• Submit Written Testimony by 1 pm on Friday, March 21
• Register to Testify in person or remotely by 12:30 pm on Wednesday, 3/19

Washington 7% rent cap (E3S) HB1217 will be heard In the Senate Housing Committee on Wednesday, March 19, at 1:30 pm

A high-level summary of the bill’s provisions before the amended version:

• 7% annual cap on rent increases
• 180-day notice for rent increases of 3% or more
• Late fees capped at 1.5% of monthly rent
• Violations enforced under the Consumer Protection Act
• Prohibits offering preferable terms for longer lease periods
• Move-in and security deposits capped at one month’s rent
• 10-year new construction exemption

Lobbying efforts resulted in the following changes:

• Extending new construction exemption from 10 to 12 years
• Removing model lease and landlord resource center
• Reducing the notice requirement to 90 days for all increases
• Removing the policy on move-in fees & security deposit
• Removing the policy on late fees
• Requiring Right to Cure
• Removing Consumer Protection Act enforcement

TESTIMONY IS NEEDED

Testimony is still needed on this bill from Washington residents, including managers, vendors, investors, and owners: Read the latest bill 

Sign up to testify or submit written testimony

Notes:

1) In-person testimony requests close at noon Wednesday.

2) Written testimony may be submitted until 12:59 pm Thursday, March 20.