In Washington State - a Look at the Legislative Session That Starts Today

The Rental Housing Association of Washington offers rental owners in Washington this roundup of highlights from this year's two-month session which runs January 10-March 10, 2022:

Last year, when Washington state lawmakers convened for a historic 2021 legislative session, much of the focus centered on the financial impacts of COVID-19 and rental housing stability.

In 2022, Olympia must make COVID relief for residents and housing providers more efficient and accessible. Additionally, legislators should prioritize policies that help lead to the preservation and creation of stable, affordable housing and avoid new laws that are causing housing providers to leave the rental market; increasing costs to renters and decreasing their housing opportunities.

Policies that Support Housing Stability and Affordability
Expanding the Landlord Mitigation Program and Support for Survivors of Domestic Violence

1) The Landlord Mitigation Program provides landlords with an incentive and added security to work with tenants receiving rental assistance. The program offers up to $1,000 to the housing provider in paying for some potentially required move-in upgrades, up to fourteen days’ rent loss, and up to $5,000 in qualifying damages caused by a tenant during the tenancy. The program has been expanded to prevent evictions and assist in the long-term rental housing recovery for Washington state’s renters.

2) Unfortunately, the Program is underfunded. Policymakers should focus on meeting the immediate needs of the program to fully fund its opportunity to maintain stable housing. Doing so supports Washington state’s most vulnerable residents while providing security and stability for housing providers.

Enhancing the State’s Rental Assistance Program
Rental assistance is a proven way to help keep families in their homes while ensuring that housing providers can meet their increasing obligations. We can continue to keep families in their homes and avoid the eviction process altogether when we invest in efficient, accessible, and permanent rental assistance.

Continued COVID-19 Support
The impacts of COVID are still a threat to residents and housing providers alike. Many families and small housing providers continue to struggle financially. Policymakers must continue to prioritize swift access to federal rental assistance funds. More than half the allocated rental assistance continues to be available in Washington state.

Policies that can Increase Housing Costs and Reduce Housing Certainty

Eliminating Criminal Record Screening from Rental Applications
A ban on criminal records prevents housing providers from reviewing criminal convictions as part of a holistic rental application process. Housing providers have an obligation to make a risk assessment of each applicant entering a residential community or neighborhood to provide the best opportunity for a safe community.

Statewide Rental Registry
On top of skyrocketing costs to operate rental housing and skyrocketing inflation for all goods, the State should not enact a tax on housing providers to fund programs that do not solve the underlying crises that exist. A statewide rental registry does not solve the underlying housing stock imbalance and creates more impediments to maintaining the existing housing stock for Washingtonians.

Learn more about the Rental Housing Association of Washington.