OLYMPIA – After years of trying to pass a cap on rental increases to protect renters from unfair price hikes, Rep. Nicole Macri (D-Seattle) joined Governor Bob Ferguson and lawmakers at a bill signing for HB 1217, a bill that ends egregious rent increases. Macri, one of the leaders on rental policy in the House, has sponsored numerous bills capping unfair rent increases, providing tenants additional time to address delinquent rent payments, and enacting just cause rent.
“The challenge of affordable housing has only increased, despite years of legislative work to expand supply and subsidies provided during and after the pandemic. It’s time for stability for renters. We must do more, but in the meantime, this is an incredibly important step forward and will provide renters the predictability that they need to make their household budgets. This is going to make a big difference for families who have been facing year after year of skyrocketing and price gouging rent increases,” said Macri.
Under HB 1217, manufactured home park tenants have their annual rent increases capped at 5 percent. For most renters of apartments, single family homes, and other multifamily homes, annual rent increases are capped at 7 percent plus inflation or 10 percent, whichever is lower. Landlords also must provide a 90-day notice for rent increases, giving families more time to determine how to budget for their new rent or find a new home.
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