Details emerge on Washington State's Moratorium Extension to September 30, 2021

The Washington Multifamily Housing Association provided the following additional details regarding Governor Jay Inslee's extension of the eviction moratorium.

The exact details of Governor Inslee's Proclamation are not yet available and we will provide those upon receipt. In an advance press release, the Governor's office indicated the "bridge" Proclamation will include the following: 

• For past rent due from Feb. 29, 2020, through July 31, 2021, landlords are prohibited from evicting a tenant until there is an operational rental assistance program and eviction resolution program in place in their county.
  
  
• In addition, for past rent owed, landlords are prohibited from treating any unpaid rent or other charges as an enforceable debt until the landlord and tenant have been provided with an opportunity to resolve nonpayment of rent through an eviction resolution pilot program.
  
  
• Starting August 1, renters are expected to pay full rent or pay less if they negotiate that with their landlord or actively seek rental assistance funding. If a renter is taking any of those actions, a landlord cannot evict that tenant. However, if a tenant is not paying or isn’t trying to obtain rental assistance from the appropriated funds, a landlord can take any action allowed by law, but also offer the tenant a reasonable repayment plan before starting the eviction process.
  
  
• Tenants must also be provided, in writing, services, and support available to them.
  
  
• Certain types of housing also will be removed from the order altogether, including hotels/motels, Air B&Bs, long-term care facilities, and other non-traditional housing.

The current moratorium expires at 11:59 pm on June 30.  No changes to management operations should occur before this date. 

We see that programs expanded by the legislature's actions as "ready to go" and other programs created not contingent on being available to end the moratorium. If the legislature intended for some programs to be available upon the termination of the moratorium, the bill would have expressed stated as much.  

Please note the following cities have enacted local moratoria further restricting property management operations. These more restrictive moratoria supersede the state's moratorium and any "bridge" extension.  

• City of Seattle
• City of Kenmore
• City of Kirkland
• City of Burien

The Washington Multifamily Housing Association will provide updated information as it becomes available before June 30th.