Rental Housing Changes in the City of Seattle

Washington State has instituted significant changes in the law governing rental housing. Many of those changes comport with the existing Seattle laws, but Seattle has undergone its own changes in laws governing rental housing. Below are a few of the recent changes in light of COVID recovery measures.

If you haven’t read our previous blog post, Statewide “Bridge” Program in the State of Washington, we highly recommend you to do so.

 Right to Counsel

Seattle City Council Bill 120007 provides legal counsel to low-income renters who cannot afford an attorney.

Effective immediately, all notices issued under SMC 22.206.160.C (Just Cause Eviction Ordinance) must contain the following language:

RIGHT TO LEGAL COUNSEL: CITY LAW PROVIDES RENTERS WHO ARE UNABLE TO PAY FOR AN ATTORNEY THE RIGHT TO FREE LEGAL REPRESENTATION IN AN EVICTION LAWSUIT. If you need help understanding this notice or information about your renter rights, call the Renting in Seattle Helpline at (206) 684-5700 or visit the web site at www.seattle.gov/rentinginseattle.

Language Guidance and Compliance:

This language must appear with the first sentence in bold and capital letters in a font size no smaller than 12 pt. An additional page including the required language may be attached to the 14-Day Notice to Pay or Vacate form provided by the Washington State Attorney General.

SDCI is reviewing notices for this language and is requiring rescission of the notice if it is not present.

 Wanting to sell your Seattle Rental Property? Does your property have a term lease?

• Full eviction moratorium extended to September 30, 2021.

  • No exception for selling or owner to occupy.

• Under state law, if a rental property is sold, current rental agreement transfers to new owner.

• Seattle Just Cause Eviction Ordinance allows 90-day notice to end tenancy when selling a Single-family home

  • This does not apply to condo units.

• Seattle Mandatory Lease Renewal Ordinance requires “just cause” notice aligning with end of term to end tenancy.

• Seattle  Notice of Intent to Sell Ordinance requires notice to city and tenants if property has more units rented and at least one is affordable. Please see https://www.seattle.gov/housing/intent-to-sell/landlord-requirements

Notice to End Tenancy

Notice to Send	Seattle
3-day Quit for Unlawful Action	Permitted with affidavit
10-day Comply or Vacate	Not permitted through September 30, 2021
14-Day Pay or Vacate	Not permitted through September 30, 2021
60-Day End of Term (with no cause)	Not permitted per city code
End of Tenancy (with cause)	Not permitted through September 30, 2021

Newest Seattle Laws

2020	Additional damage liability protection for victims of domestic violence.
2020	Protections for adding roommates and family members.
2020	Winter eviction ban.
2020/21	Several COVID-related protections. Eviction bans Rental assistance In addition to supporting United Way of King County in allocating millions of dollars of rent assistance to households who had been financially impacted by COVID and were unable to pay rent, millions more covered missed rent payments in subsidized properties that rely on rental income to sustain operations.
2021	School year eviction ban.
2021	Mandatory lease renewal with “reasonable terms,” unless “just cause” cited.
2021	New “renter’s Handbook” replaces “Tenant Information Packet”