For Immediate Release: Monday, March 10, 2025

Contact: Kristin Hyde, 206-491-0773

Survey Finds Excessive Rent Increases Are Top Concern of Renters and Homeowners Alike, Supermajority Supports Policy to Stop Rent Gouging

Olympia, WA – Today Washington State House members approved HB 1217, a rent stabilization policy that would prohibit rent increases of more than 7%.
 

Michele Thomas, policy and advocacy director at the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance, commented: “Excessive rent increases are unfair and unnecessary. They are at the root of our affordable housing and eviction crisis here in Washington. Rent increases are destabilizing households across the state, even while landlords are not doing repairs. Evictions are at an all time high and more and more households are struggling to meet their basic needs while landlords take advantage of vulnerable people, including seniors and families with young children. Despite hundreds of thousands spent by deep-pocked corporate lobby groups trying to kill the bill, and thanks to incredible leadership in the House from Representatives Macri, Peterson and others, lawmakers have voted to provide renters with predictability over rent increases.”

And a new survey conducted by EMC Research from January 26 - February 2, 2025 of 1,100registered voters in Washington State, found 72% support a policy to put a limit on how much landlords can increase rent. Homeowners and renters alike, people who identify as Democrats and Republicans, across all incomes and areas of the state support the rent stabilization measure.
 

Other Key Findings:

• Seven-in-ten say they have been unable to rent near where they work due to rents being too high

• Seven-in-ten say they have had a rent increase that significantly impacted their financial situation.

• Almost two-thirds say they have had to move because the rent got too high

• 61% of all respondents said rent increases should be limited to no more than 6%.

• 87% of voters who identify as a Democrat support the policy

Sara Eubank of Bremerton shared: “The average age of members of our 55-plus manufactured home community is 85. When the park property owner increased rent over 10% in one of the last three years, and then slightly less in the next two, ten of our neighbors could no longer afford to stay here and had to move.  People of this age can’t just get another job.   The way things are going with the economy and rent, we could all be homeless seniors in another six months. We don’t want to leave, we moved here to be near our kids and grandchildren,  but Washington State needs to be more proactive in stabilizing rents, or we won’t have a choice.”
 

Brandon Sheffer of Issaquah shared: “Our rent has increased by $1,000 a month over the last few years. My wife and I consider ourselves middle class, but how is anyone less fortunate expected to survive with these unpredictable rent hikes? I help support my disabled sister who lives out of state and it has made that more difficult to afford. I know Issaquah requires 120 days notice to raise more than 3%. I was notified 121 days before the proposed increase just barely meeting that deadline and the increase was approximately 10%. This was also my experience at Park Hill in Issaquah (increases of 10%+ annually). It feels greedy and unsustainable. Rent doubling every 8 years or so puts an impossible burden on people.”

Alisha Driggs of Spokane shared: “We work hard. We contribute to our state’s economy. We deserve predictable housing. I know how it feels to be lost without a paddle and nowhere to swim. When you’re a young adult drowning in debt, bills, child care, food, car, emergency problems arising just learning how to survive on your own in the real world, it’s not easy. However, the rent you pay for housing, well, that should be the one steady thing you know that won’t increase blindly.”
 

Justina Kolb of Issaquah shared: ”The latest increase in my rent was 28%. Because my brother and I have been caretaking for our mother, we thought going month-to-month would give us the flexibility to move more easily if we had to. But we were told that if we remain month-to-month, rather than signing a one-year contract, our base rent would go up by $440 a month, and we would be charged an additional “month-to-month fee” of $1200 --an increase of more than $1600 dollars a month. I’m tired of landlords taking advantage of us.”
 

Kathy Yasi and Jim Fife, landlords in Seattle, shared: “We make repairs, keep up with expenses and comfortably fund our retirement with small rent increases. Good tenants are valuable to us. We have never raised the rent or fees more than 7%. This legislation allows us to raise the rent as much as needed in-between tenants and make substantial profits from our investments. Our bottom line includes the well being of our neighborhood. We’ve met several people who were made homeless by unconscionable landlord charges. We hope the Washington Senate follows in step with House members in delivering this common sense solution to protect renter households.”

More information about the policy here. Please contact Kristin Hyde to be connected with impacted renters and landlords, policy experts and advocates for affordable housing, 206-491-0773,kristin@powerhouse-strategic.com

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