Squatter granted restraining order against landlord by Washington State judge

A Washington judge has granted a restraining order filed by a tenant against his landlord after the property owner organized a protest outside the rental home to call attention to the situation.

Thanks to failed COVID-era policies leaving small mom-and-pop landlords out tens of thousands of dollars in back rent and no action to remedy the situation being taken by the Democratic politicians that enacted them, there is now concern that residents may begin taking matters into their own hands.

Jaskaran Singh owns a single-family rental property he bought three years ago in Woodridge, one of Bellevue, Washington’s most desirable neighborhoods. He said he rented it to Sang Kim and his family in the summer of 2022.

Singh told the Ari Hoffman Show on Talk Radio 570 KVI that he received the first and last month’s rent when the family moved in but nothing since then.

Despite not paying rent, Singh told the Discovery Institute’s Senior Fellow Jonathan Choe that Kim got 2 new cars.

Following months of non-payment and a failed attempt at mediation through the city, Singh’s lawyer Stephen Freeborn filed eviction proceedings.

However, the King County Bar Association's Housing Justice Project (HJP), which offers free legal help to low-income renters facing eviction, provided Kim with free legal help and also paid the back rent and a three-month advance on future rent so that the family had time to move out.

But Kim didn’t leave and according to Singh, hasn’t paid rent since May 2023 and the lease expired in April of 2023.

Jani Spencer, a real estate agent with Compass, told Choe that Kim is a repeat offender and has “…done this more than once, " adding that Kim is “a con artist” and that her clients are still owed thousands of dollars in back rent.

Singh and Freeborn again filed to evict the tenant for non-payment and were granted a writ of execution in January. Once again, the HJP stepped in and requested a stay on the eviction. The case is scheduled to be heard in April.

According to Singh, he is out over $80,000 from having to pay the mortgage and utilities on the property, as well as legal fees. "I’m suffering while he's enjoying all the amenities.”

“I lost my job in the summer,” he told Hoffman. “Juggling my own mortgage and paying double mortgage for the tenant's house has become a considerable burden.”

Singh noted, “I work two jobs to support my family and the tenant's family.”

“While my tenant enjoys a relaxed lifestyle, buys new cars, and celebrates [with] barbecues, I continue to struggle to pay my bills and double mortgages. Our tax dollars not only provide free legal support to my tenant but also pay his rent while he does little to contribute and seemingly manipulates the system.”

On Saturday Singh organized a protest outside the rental property and over 200 people, including local politicians on both sides of the political aisle, showed up to support the mom-and-pop landlord.

In anticipation of the well-advertised protest, Kim was able to obtain a temporary restraining order against Singh. The Pro Tem (temporary protection) order was signed Friday by Judge Matthew A. Skau from the King County District Court’s East Division.

Kim also admitted in documents he filed to obtain the restraining order that he asked YouTube to take down the original story Choe did calling attention to Singh’s plight.

Choe attempted to get Kim’s side of the story during the protest, but in response, Kim threatened to call the police.

In a previous interview, Kim told Choe that Singh had “been fabricating a story to the court so that's why I'm still here," and accused the landlord of harassment and “not fixing anything," but still couldn’t explain why he was so behind in the rent or say when he would pay back what was owed.  

Freeborn said the court system is to blame because delays are routinely granted in eviction proceedings, which adds to the backlogs and financial losses.

“The statute still requires this to be done in 30 days, and the whole reason that statute was created was because of the consequences on homeowners and tenants as well,” Freeborn said.

King County courts are behind on at least 600 eviction cases, many of which are a result of municipal ordinances that deferred rent and prohibited evictions for tenants during the pandemic, a problem that was created and ignored by King County officials like King County Executive Dow Constantine and King County Councilmember Claudi Balducci.

Singh told Choe, "There is no law protecting the landlord. Justice delayed is justice denied."

William Shadbolt, with the Washington Properties Association, told the journalist that "Judges and commissioners in other counties like Kitsap are openly mocking King County," adding that according to state law, eviction cases must be prioritized over other civil matters, and hearings must be granted within 30 days.

"They should be clearing this backlog of eviction cases that they created," Shadbolt added.

In a statement to Hoffman, a spokesperson for King County Courts previously claimed, "This is due to a variety of reasons out of our control.  Legislative changes have led to lengthier hearings, defenses, and right to counsel." 

At the time, Kim referred Choe to his attorney at the HJP but no one at the agency returned requests for comment.

Singh and his attorney told Choe and Hoffman that he had lost faith in the legal system and recommended that no one become a landlord in Washington State.

"I have been suffering tremendously as a result of a renter who refuses to vacate rental property in our community despite an eviction notice from the sheriff and news coverage of the issue. This renter has engaged in this predatory conduct with other landlords. This is not about financial loss, it's about injustice. City Council, Senators, and other community leaders are invited to join our neighbor to protest against non-paying renters who refuse to vacate property despite an eviction order. This can happen to any of our community and it’s important that community leaders and media take a unified front against those who refuse to respect our communities. We can't do this alone." 

Singh told Choe that he will try to organize a protest at the property every Saturday until Kim leaves.