Seattle’s “Eviction Moratorium” of Renters

The City of Seattle Eviction Moratorium has been extended to September 30^th of this year.  The rules and regulations are complex and, I advise you to seek legal council if you’re a landlord or tenant to navigate these regulations.

Until the Eviction Moratorium expires, I believe the regulations against evictions include;

1. A landlord cannot evict a tenant for the nonpayment of rent.

• A landlord cannot charge any late fees for the nonpayment of rent.

• A landlord cannot threaten the tenants with charging late fees for nonpayment of rent.

• A landlord cannot increase the rental rate.

• The landlord must attempt to negotiate a repayment plan with the tenant prior to seeking an eviction of the tenant.

• But, a landlord can evict a tenant if they violate the health and safety of others.  This will be incredibly hard to prove.  Please seek the advice of an attorney.  

Once the Eviction Moratorium expires, there will still be landlord restrictions on evicting tenants.  Here are some examples;

1. If a family has children attending school during the school year, landlords are not allowed to evict the tenant during the school year.

• The tenant has the “First Right of Refusal” to continue leasing their home, if they choose to.

• If a tenant claims financial hardship due to Covid-19, the landlord will not be allowed to evict the tenant.

Apparently, the federal government is setting up programs to reimburse landlords for back rent not paid by their tenants and providing attorneys, for free, to defend tenants against evictions.  My questions is, if the tenant was collecting the boost-up unemployment compensation during this time period and yet, wasn’t paying their rent, will the federal investigate whether the tenant has the ability to pay their back rent prior to providing financial assistance? 

• Rental Housing Association of Washington: 

https://www.rhawa.org/

• Rental Registration and Inspection Ordinance

       https://www.seattle.gov/sdci/codes/licensing-and-registration/rental-registration-and-  inspection-ordinance

• Washington Residential Landlord Tenant Act
• https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=59.18

• City of Seattle / Responsibilities of Landlord and Tenant

https://www.seattle.gov/housing/renters/know-the-law#rentersrightsresponsibilities