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Landlords Banned From Raising Rent In Seattle If Apartments Don't Meet City Regulations

Elaine Thompson
/
AP Photo
A sign points toward apartments for rent in Seattle.

Landlords of apartments in Seattle with broken heaters and other safety violations will be prevented from raising the rent under a new Seattle ordinance. The law is likely to be challenged in court.The Seattle City Council passed the ordinance unanimously.  Prior to the vote on Monday, tenants rights activists spoke out in support of it. Of the dozens of speakers, no one spoke against the proposal. Violet Lavatai, who has worked with the Seattle Tenants Union said it would stop slumlords from taking advantage of tenants.

"When you pay your rent every month, you expect to live in a place that is good, no roaches, no mold, no cracks in the walls," Lavatai said.

Roy Martin Brown, with the Washington Community Action network says his group recently surveyed 300 tenants in Seattle and 75% reported they had code violations in their rental unit. "Many  of your constituents are living in substandard housing," Brown told the council.

Although none spoke during the public comment period at the city council meeting, some landlords oppose the ordinance saying it amounts to rent control, which is illegal under state law.

The City Council, which voted unanimously for the ordinance, insists it’s not really rent control, but some council members say they do fully expect landlords to take it to court.

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray supports the ordinance. It will become law 30 days after he signs it.

Paula is a former host, reporter and producer who retired from KNKX in 2021. She joined the station in 1989 as All Things Considered host and covered the Law and Justice beat for 15 years. Paula grew up in Idaho and, prior to KNKX, worked in public radio and television in Boise, San Francisco and upstate New York.