FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, February 24, 2023 

CONTACT: Rob Huff, robh@wliha.org

(253) 229-5769 

Bill to Stop Rent Gouging Approved by House Appropriations Committee, Landlords Join Housing Advocates Pushing for Floor Vote

Olympia – Today the WA House Appropriations Committee approved a ground breaking measure to address the growing problem of rent gouging. Unprecedented rent increases are driving thousands of Washingtonians into displacement and even homelessness. 

According to a December, 2022 survey of Washington voters, nearly three quarters have either experienced housing instability themselves or know someone who has, and 63% support taking measures to protect renters from unfair rent increases.

Representative Alex Ramel’s bill HB 1389 will help stabilize rents by ensuring that rent increases during a 12-month period are no more than 3 – 7% depending on the rate of inflation. The bill provides flexibility for landlords  including exemptions for newly built buildings, major repairs, and hardships. Landlords would also be able to “bank” rent increases for use in future years.

Mei Shah, a renter and grandparent from Lacey, praised lawmakers for doing something about rising rent, “It broke my heart to see my neighbors, many of them grandparents, get displaced by rising rent. When rent goes from $650 to $1650 for seniors living on a fixed income, they are forced to leave their homes, torn apart from their friends and neighbors. This and other predatory practices destroyed the community we had.”

“Many interventions and investments are needed to address our housing crisis in Washington, but rent stabilization is the only one that can directly and quickly help the 40% of Washingtonians who are renters to stay in their homes and stop being victims of destabilizing and unreasonable rent increases,” said Michele Thomas, Advocacy and Policy Director for the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance.

Michael Parker, a Bellingham landlord, said “I am a landlord and I support rent stabilization because I want to be part of the solution to our housing crisis. I want my daughter to be able to afford to live here if she chooses. Rents are just too high – employers can’t find enough workers because workers can’t afford to live in Bellingham.”

Jeanne Sickel, a Seattle and Kitsap County landlord who is also a mortgage lender and Board President of New Beginnings, an organization supporting survivors and working to end domestic violence, said, “Homelessness is a crisis, and rent stabilization is a small step we can take to help solve it. I want to live in a community where baristas, artists, restaurant workers, nonprofit workers, teachers, nurses, house cleaners, and veterinarians can afford to live. Providing stable housing is one small way we landlords can help the housing crisis. Also, I know from my advocacy for victims of domestic violence that 98% of people in abusive relationships experience financial abuse and affordable housing plays a big role in that. Rent gouging may cause some to stay where they shouldn’t because they can’t afford to leave.”

When reporting on housing affordability, it’s important to differentiate rent stabilization from rent control. Rent stabilization is both legally, and functionally, different from “rent control.” See Investopedia: Apartments.com; Forbes.com; Zumper.com.
 

For more information about rent stabilization visit www.rentfairness.org and contact Michele Thomas, michelet@wliha.org