For Immediate Release: Thursday, April 10, 2025

Contact: Kristin Hyde, 206-491-0773, kristin@powerhouse-strategic.com

Olympia, WA – HB 1217, a bill to limit rent increases to 7% for residential renters and 5% for manufactured homeowners, has been approved by the Washington state Senate. The Senate made amendments every step of the way, including on the Senate Floor in a stunning upset. Amendments were accepted that raised the yearly allowable rent increase for residential renters to 10% plus the CPI, and a another amendment exempts protections from renters who live in a single family home.The bill will need to be reconsidered and approved by the state House before going to the Governor, but the Housing Alliance is calling on the House to reject the Floor amendments and demand that the Senate roll them back.

Michele Thomas, director of policy and advocacy for the statewide Low Income Housing Alliance in Washington, commented: 

“Nearly 1 million renter households in our state are at risk of displacement and even homelessness as rents continue to rise and 10% is too high. 10% rent increases on top of today’s average rent of $1830 is $180 per month. That will still displace and harm renters and the Senators who voted yes on that amendment should be ashamed of themselves. There will never be a time when vulnerable seniors, disabled people, low and middle income workers and families with children can withstand excessive rent increases. There were already a large number of exemptions for landlords in the rent stabilization measure, so we are very disappointed to see the Senate adopt amendments to further benefit property owners, not the vulnerable renters and manufactured home owners this policy was meant to protect. And to exempt all renters who live in a single family home will have disparate impacts on families who more often seek such rental units due to the need for more bedrooms and outdoor space for kids. Renters in smaller towns across the state where single family homes are a significant portion of the rental stock will also be disproportionately harmed.These were bad, thoughtless and harmful amendments. 

The changes made by the Senate gut key protections against excessive rent increases. We are asking the House to reject these changes, and to restore the 7% rent increase limit, essential to keeping renter households in their homes. Despite the heroic work of champions including Senator Alvarado, Senator Trudeau and Senator Bateman and others, amendments introduced on the Senate floor stripped critical protections needed to provide stability and predictability for renters and manufactured home owners.”

Contrary to how the issue is framed in some headlines, a policy to put a limit on rent increases is decidedly not controversial or divisive for Washington voters. In public opinion survey after survey capping rent increases has overwhelming –  and rising – public support. 

In January, an Elway poll found 68 percent support for limiting the amount landlords can raise rent, 37% strongly favor. 

In February, EMC Research found supermajority support - 72% - for capping the amount landlords can increase rent annually– with strong majority support in every area of the state, across party affiliation, income, and whether those surveyed were homeowners or renters. 52% of those surveyed strongly support the rent stabilization policy, and 87% of Democrats support it.

In March, a statewide YouGov poll found 81% favor rent stabilization policy to cap rent increases, with 57% strongly supporting it.
 

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