HB 1217 is an exciting and historic bill that would expand protections for renters - including limiting rent increases and requiring increased notice of rent and fee increases, among other policies - and assist with renter housing stability. This bill passed from the Senate recently and will soon make its way to the House. Now more than ever, renters needs these common sense protections to prevent excessive rent increases from forcing them out of their homes. However, the Senate included two amendments that greatly weaken the bill:
One amendment by Senator Shewmake would raise the annual cap on rent increases to 10% + the Consumer Price Index (CPI), meaning on years with high inflation, landlords could impose rent increases far greater than 10%. A rent increase of 10% is already more than renters can afford, so this amendment greatly weakens the rent stabilization protections of SB 1217. A second amendment by Senator Liias would exempt non-corporate owned single family homes from rent increase caps. Single family homes are often rented by families with children, who cannot afford excessive rent increases and deserve the same rent stabilization protection as everyone else.
With skyrocketing rent prices and an unstable fiscal environment, rent stabilization is needed now more than ever. Use the link below to access an action from the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance, and tell your representatives: Support HB 1217, and oppose the proposed harmful amendments!
Additionally, join the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance in Olympia on Friday, April 18 from 11am – 1pm in the legislative building for a rally to continue pressuring lawmakers to pass HB 1217 without harmful amendments.