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"If a tenant had a three-month rent voucher, for example, but then couldn't find permanent income in time to continue paying their rent after those three months, the landlord could be left without rent payments and the tenant evicted, said Sean Martin, a spokesperson for the RHA. In response to those concerns, Council Members Rob Johnson and Tim Burgess amended the law to request a city audit of the law and its effects by the end of 2018."
In the meantime, if there is a problem, fuck you, landlords!
I wish we didn't have a council who is mostly focused on out liberaling each other, but it can be sadly amusing sometimes.
This is all well-intentioned law aimed at a persistent problem (racism is still rampant in real estate, renting and lending practices), but I do worry about how it would impact a first-time, independent landlord renting out, say, an Accessory Dwelling Unit. Could that landlord be penalized if they had three qualified candidates but then picked one over the others because they seemed like they'd make better neighbors to share a wall with?
Speaking as a small landlord, it’s inconceivable that our City Council members are so disconnected from our needs that they would actually consider this reasonable policy.
I can say firsthand: if I have to rent to the first person who just has enough money, I’m probably going to have to pull my rentals off Craigslist/Hotpads, and instead advertise exclusively through word-of-mouth or at my tech workplace where folks are always looking for new housing (so I can minimize my risk of legal action for choosing the right tenant).
This is the *opposite* of the intent of this law.
As a small landlord, my tenants live literally 3 feet above my head. There’s no way I’d be looking for the first person who can just pay the rent. This person is going to be my close neighbor for years to come. Like many small landlords, I intentionally underprice my units by 10-20%, so I can have the best fit.
As a landlord, I’m looking for:
- a conscientious neighbor
- someone who’s going to stay a long time if treated really well (e.g. tiny or no annual rent increases, same-day maintenance, etc)
- going to be responsible about shared building security/taking out the garbage/maintaining common areas
- history of home ownership or other demonstrated responsibility
Like many part-time landlords, I don’t have the time to handle tenant churn. It’s a huge drain I can’t afford. And, frankly, I want conscientious neighbors I enjoy living next to.
This is simply the reality of being a mom-and-pop landlord in the US. City Council can’t magically legislate a set of needs away simply because they’re inconvenient.
I'm curious when this will go into effect, considering most corporate PM companies: Greystar, Pinnacle, Holland, etc, offer reduced deposits and waived application fees through their Preferred Employer program. This isn't just for Amazonians or Microsofties...most educational institutions, (think teachers) and government workers (think police officers) get these specials as well. It's not a rent reduction, just a special, like 1/2 month free rent. But again, most properties offer it, so it will be interesting to see how that will change.
How about if you have better credit score and good, secure job, but not with Amazon? Out of luck huh? What about a company or industry with known issue of age, gender and race imbalance? Are you indirectly discriminating if you give such preference?
This is pathetic and will do next to nothing to make Seattle more affordable and allow lower and middle income earners to live in Seattle.
But in neighborhood news the old Theodora in Wedgwood has high priced apartments available for lease!! You know, the place that used to provide low income housing for people. And the old orphanage on 65th street and 32nd avenue is looking quite nice as high priced condos and townhouses. I'm sure those kids all found loving homes: at least that's what I'd be telling myself if I lived there now. PROGRESS!!!!!
Based on x, y, and z I am discriminated against living on lake washington but I work near there and just really, really want to.
If council actually wants to accomplish something they could throw away the SF zoning that ensures the MAJORITY of Seattle will never be affordable for most. Providing more places to create housing is a lot better than awkward government bureaucracy and process.
I agree with you that this self congratulating show by city council is disgusting and pathetic.
I'm sure you feel very confident that Group A is 70% more likely to cause damage to your rental or Group B is 90% more likely to pay rent on time. But even assuming the numbers align with reality, you don't get to disenfranchise an entire segment of people to mitigate risk when it comes to housing. Housing is a unique asset investment in that regard. Seattle is one of those progressive regions that will also favor protective laws over landlord risk mitigation. So, yes, some of your freedom as a landlord is being taken away to prevent discrimination.
All of that said, landlords will still find creative ways in an attempt to carve out "favorable" tenants and I'm sure it's rare that housing discrimination lawsuits are filed. As a renter, you're totally in the dark about the application process. You submit your info and just sit and wait. How can you really know that your application came in *after* the Microsoft employee making $90k more than you?
As for judging an employee based partly on the interview, that alone is a whole can of worms and women and people of color get discriminated against constantly under the guise of "culture fit." I would love to see laws passed in that area as well because the playing field there is completely lopsided, particularly white collar employment. "He talked about rap artists and we're more of a prog-rock office. He seems qualified, but I just don't think it would be the right culture fit."