by Jeana K. Poloni, Attorney Seattle’s Fair Chance Housing ordinance went into effect on February 19, 2018. The ordinance was unanimously adopted by the Seattle City Council in August 2017. The ordinance prohibits landlords from denying applicants housing based on their criminal history with very limited exceptions. This ordinance leaves many landlords wondering why […]
Emerging Issues in Rental Housing Discrimination
Many landlords already know Washington prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, familial status, sex, military status, sexual orientation, disability, or use of a service animal. RCW 49.60.030(1). A lesser known discrimination issue involves a tenant’s participation in subsidized or Section 8 programs. Approximately 13 states enacted laws related to source […]
First In Time Ordinance Struck Down
by Evan L. Loeffler, Attorney Seattle’s “First in Time” ordinance was determined to violate the Washington Constitution on March 28, 2018. The ordinance, considered the first of its kind in the nation, required landlords to publish their tenant selection criteria and rent property to the first applicant who meets those criteria. Tenant advocates and […]
Surprise Tenants and Squatters
Real estate investors in residential property are sometimes surprised to learn after the purchase has closed there is already someone living in the property. Whether the occupant is the former owner, a member of the former owner’s family, a tenant that was not disclosed or simply someone who moved in and will not willingly vacate, […]
Who is Responsible for Damage Caused to the Unit?
by Evan L. Loeffler, Attorney First published in RHA Current QUESTION: “A tenant in my building on the fourth floor pulled up the stopper on her bathroom sink and turned on the water in order to fill the sink. She then left the room left it running and then fell asleep. The water was on […]
Renting to Short Term Tenants
Strategies When Renting Your Properties Through VRBO or AirBNB More and more landlords are filling their rental properties with short-term tenants and vacationers. The popularity of websites like l of producing income by operating a rental property like a hostel or inn. The higher rates and shorter term tenancies are attractive to homeowners who will […]
Emotional support animals: What are my rights as a landlord?
By Carinne Jaeger and Jeana Poloni Recently, emotional support animals have become more commonplace in the rental arena. Most people are familiar with traditional service animals like guide dogs, but do animals being used for emotional support qualify for the same protections? The Fair Housing Act and the Washington Law Against Discrimination require landlords to […]
UNDERSTANDING TAX ID NUMBERS
Tax Identification Numbers (TIN) are assigned to non-citizens in the US for tax purposes only—This is how they can legally pay taxes, which is a requirement. It is not common for credit history to be established under these numbers, however it can happen. Our company checks to see if credit has been established when an […]
Washington Governor Signs Sweeping New Eviction Bill – Rental Housing Journal
A sweeping new eviction bill has been signed by Washington Gov. Jay Inslee requiring landlords to give tenants 14 days to respond to an eviction notice instead of the current three days. The bill also allows judges to impose payment plans, so that tenants can remain in their homes while they repay what they owe. […]
IS SEATTLE DYING?
Please click on the link below for an eye opening look at this urgent issue KOMO News Special: Seattle is Dying https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpAi70WWBlw by Eric Johnson | KOMO News Thursday, March 14th 2019 Seattle Is Dying. It’s a harsh title. Someone on social media even called it a “hopeless” title. I’ll admit to you that I […]