Washington Residents: Tell Senate Housing Committee Members You Oppose SB 5197

The Washington state legislative session is off to a fast start with another bill that affects our industry.

This Friday, January 20th, the Senate Housing Committee will consider SB 5197, a bill that will change eviction notice forms and modify certain eviction processes. The Washington Multi-Family Housing Association shared the resources below to show why, although there are a few positive changes included in the bill, on the whole, it is bad for our industry, and to help Washington apartment owners and investors take action.

If you live in Washington, take a moment to sign into the legislative record and let the Senate Housing Committee members know that you oppose this legislation.

The lawmakers you vote for need to hear your voice. When you speak up, it helps them understand the true impact the legislation has on the people they serve and represent.

This bill:

• Permits virtual testimony (PRO)
• Requires a show cause hearing regardless of whether the tenant responds (CON) This is already required in many counties and increases the cost of eviction actions where the tenant refuses to participate in the process to resolve their nonpayment of rent issue.
• Permits the tenant an extended period of time reinstate the tenancy (CON) This increases attorney fees and creates uncertainty in the eviction process outside of the courtroom and very likely will lead to Writs being served inadvertently for lack of communication by local Sheriff’s departments.
• Removes requirements to limit additional provisions (CON) Under the current programs, this costs the state more money because we cannot address nonpayment of rent when it happens but have to wait six months to serve a notice. Additionally, rental assistance programs require us to provide a notice served on a tenant OR a Summons and Complaint in order to access funding. This is a reasonable restriction on rental assistance program overreach into the rental contract that addresses the issues before the court and makes all parties whole.
• Removes 3 pay or vacates / reinstatement (CON) This was an agreement made in 2019 that has never been fully implemented and creates a TPP entitlement requiring the State to pay rental assistance regardless of appropriation.
• Strikes reference to the Eviction Resolution Pilot Program (PRO)

Visit the Washington State Legislature website to sign into the legislative record with a position of “con.”