Consumer Protection

For information about 2009 Payday Loan legislation, click here.

KEY FACTS We want to provide realtors greater ability to assist homeowners who are in danger of foreclosure. It’s another step toward making sure this area of the law halts the dirty work of scam artists. Tradespeople should possess evidence that they do indeed hold the right credentials and certification for the job. We’re talking about fair, strong worker-certification requirements for folks who do construction work involving foundations, framing, siding, roofing, windows, and doors. The objective in HB 1393 is to make sure Washington law does a good job protecting Washington people. HB 1393 makes the law easier to understand so consumers can get their problems solved in a fair and timely manner. Consumers have a right to make a conscious choice whether they want to accept a radio-frequency-identification chip. They should not be slipped a chip without their knowledge. The bill addresses a serious gap in current law by protecting victims of sexual harassment when the perpetrator is the victim’s landlord.

Stopping foreclosure scams (HB 1132)

When entering foreclosure, some homeowners have relied on other purchasers to take over their mortgage in exchange for an interest in their property. The deal often allows the original homeowner to remain in their home, but some have been taken advantage of and been kicked out by the purchaser. We’re stopping these foreclosure scams by providing realtors greater ability to assist homeowners who are in danger of foreclosure. It’s another step toward protecting our citizens from exploitation by scam artists.

Requiring workers to have licenses, certificates, or permits in their possession when performing work in certain construction trades (HB 1055)

All too often, unlicensed and uncertified subcontractors are hired to do part of a project for less money. This underground contracting gives bad-apple contractors an unfair advantage over contractors who conduct their operations the right way. We want tradespeople to possess evidence that they do indeed hold the right credentials and certification for the job.

Terms of this measure direct that tradespeople doing electrical, plumbing, and conveyance work must keep appropriate licenses, certificates, permits, and endorsements – as well as photo identification – in their possession on the job. The bill is meant to help both the consumer and the reputable contractor or subcontractor by reining in the growing “underground economy.”

Residential construction improvements through consumer education, warranty protections, contractor-registration requirements, and worker-certification standards (HB 1393) 

Since buying a home is the biggest purchase most people will ever make, homebuyers have every right to receive quality work for their investment. This legislation will help address the nightmare many homeowners face when they discover that their homes have major construction defects. 

We want to establish an Office of Consumer Education for Home Construction. The office would serve as the main point of contact for consumers to take their questions or problems. We’re talking about fair, strong worker-certification requirements for folks who do construction work involving foundations, framing, siding, roofing, windows, and doors. Additional information that a contractor-registration applicant would be required to disclose to the Department of Labor & Industries includes:

• Any bankruptcy proceedings against the applicant.
• Any construction licenses, certifications, or registrations that have been issued to the applicant by other states.
• Any denials, suspensions, revocations, or other construction-related enforcement actions against the applicant by other states.

In setting up the office and establishing certification requirements for construction workers, the bill is a thorough plan for addressing defects. This bill also creates home-construction warranties so homeowners have a legal remedy if defects do turn up.

Manufactured/Mobile Home Dispute Resolution Program (HB 1140)

This measure strengthens the Mobile Home Dispute Resolution Program by creating informal and formal dispute-resolution procedures. We want to help landlords and tenants of manufactured/mobile homes by clarifying this fair and reasonable strategy for resolving differences without forcing folks to go to court.

Providing at least two years' notice of closures or conversions of mobile home parks and manufactured-housing communities (HB 1581)

Terms of this measure require landlords of manufactured/mobile-home communities to give tenants two years notice of closure or conversion of the community. For many folks, these mobile homes are the most realistic housing they can afford. The two-year-notice requirement gives homeowners a reasonable amount of time to apply for relocation assistance and move their home. They will also have a better chance to negotiate an offer of purchase with the community owner.

Violations of the Consumer Protection Act (HB 1683)

Times have changed since this consumer-protection standard was put on the books 25 years ago. Recently, a report ranked Washington near the bottom in terms of remedies available for consumers who have been wronged. We want to make sure Washington law does a good job protecting Washington people. We want stiffer punishment against people who violate the Consumer Protection Act. People who defy the law today face damages up to $10,000. The bill this year would raise the maximum penalty to $25,000.

Tenants who are victims of sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking (HB 1856)

The bill addresses a serious gap in current law by protecting victims of sexual harassment when the perpetrator is the victim’s landlord. A tenant or household member who is the victim of harassment could seek to terminate a rental agreement with no further obligation, according to this measure. Also, tenants or household members who are victims of harassment by a landlord, as well as sexual assault or stalking by a landlord, could change the locks or add new locks to their dwelling.

Terms of the bill say a complaint-report would need to be filed for a victim to have access to the lock-change option. Folks in subsidized housing today face the possibility of losing their voucher. Landlord sexual abuse forces victims to decide whether to stay quiet about the abuse and keep their existing housing – or file a complaint and then relocate and incur termination fees and possibly poor-credit references.

Foreclosures on deeds of trust (HB 1942)

This proposal requires a mortgagee or beneficiary to contact a borrower to assess the borrower’s financial situation and seek alternatives to foreclosure before a notice of default is issued. Other terms of the bill direct that a tenant of residential property sold in foreclosure will get 60 days written notice before the tenant can be removed.