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October 6, 2015

Seattle council OKs tenant protections

By JOURNAL STAFF

SEATTLE — Seattle City Council Monday approved a bill aimed at property owners who avoid paying tenant relocation assistance by using large rent increases to force low-income renters out of their apartments.

Currently, if property owners plan to tear down or renovate units, the city requires them to give low-income renters 90 days notice and pay $3,255 in relocation assistance.

Current rules say a property owner does not have to pay relocation assistance if a tenant leaves voluntarily due to a rent increase.

The council says landlords have used this provision as a loophole to force what it calls “economic evictions” to get out of paying relocation assistance.

According to the new rules, if tenants leave their apartments as a result of rent increases of more than 20 percent, property owners can't apply for permits to renovate the unit for at least six months if they haven't paid relocation assistance.

The city could deny the property owner's permit application and charge up to $1,000 a day following the violation.




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