Washington state Dems seek to pass rent control laws in new legislative session

Oblivious or intentionally ignoring the legislation and taxes Democrats have passed that have increased costs for Washingtonians, Alvarado added, “Since this bill was not passed last year, 15 percent of renters received a $250 or greater per month rent increase. These excessive rent increases destabilize our communities, and it’s time to do something about it.”

The bill includes a 7 percent cap on annual rent increases for existing tenants, including buildings operated by nonprofits and residential construction that are 10 years old or less. The legislation also requires landlords to give 180 days notice before an increase of 3 percent or more and limits some move-in and deposit fees.

Democrats are likely to try and push the legislation through early in the session so that Alvarado, a fierce proponent of rent control, can vote on it twice. She will begin the session in the state house but may finish the session in the state senate, because she is a top candidate to fill the seat of State Senator Joe Nguyen, who is moving over to head the state’s Commerce Department under incoming Governor Bob Ferguson.

Sen. Yasmin Trudeau (D-Tacoma) is sponsoring companion legislation, Senate Bill 5222, in the state senate and said at the presser, “What I’ve heard at every coffee chat, in every email from constituents across the district, is people cannot keep up with their rent. Housing is a fundamental basic need.”

Washington GOP Chair and State Rep. Jim Walsh (R-Aberdeen) told the Center Square, “Artificially restricting how much or under what terms houses or apartments can be rented creates scarcity in housing inventory. That scarcity drives rents up even higher, and benefits people who already have housing, which is where we are now in Washington.”

The outlet previously reported that during the debate over last year's version of the bill, Ian Randall of Seattle Grassroots Landlords cited a December 2023 Seattle City Auditor report illustrating that the Emerald City had lost over 7,000 rental properties since 2019.

Walsh told The Center Square that solving the issue requires deregulating housing construction and zoning, saying “Deregulate, don’t add more regulations.”

Many landlords and property owners are likely to oppose the bill again, noting that rent control will worsen Washington’s housing shortage. Board president and executive director at the Rental Housing Association of Washington Sean Flynn slammed the plan because it will push developers out of the state and lead to less home construction. He told the Washington State Standard, “The fundamental problem that we have in our housing market is a lack of supply. This chokes off supply.”

He suggested that the Legislature should target tenants needing assistance and specific landlords using predatory rent increases without cause. Republicans are proposing a tenant assistance program that would give rental assistance vouchers to low-income tenants who may need help paying rent.