Here is a great blog post about holiday gifts for tenants!

by Nick Sidoti, R.A.M., “Dr. Cash Flow”

Question: Dear Nick – What is your opinion on tenants’ gifts and the holidays? I’ve talked to other investors that give their tenants a reduction in rent, some who give their tenants candy and others who do nothing. Any ideas? S.C. Woodridge, IL.

Answer: I’ve thought about this many times and have changed my mind and approach many times. Therefore, let me just give you some ideas and guidelines on what you can do and let you decide what is appropriate for your tenants (customers).

Let me start off by saying that I think it is important to remember your tenants during the holiday season. There are several schools of thought on this topic. Some folks think you should give gifts, but only to your good tenants. Others think that you should remember all tenants because by promoting goodwill, your not-so-great tenants may decide to change their ways. You choose. I can see merit in both.

NEVER reduce the rent as a way of giving a tenant a holiday gift. This gives them the idea that you don’t need it and can lead to problems later on! I think it is much more appropriate to remember your tenants during the holidays (any time between Thanksgiving and New Years) in any of the following ways.

Greeting Cards
This is a good way to remember your tenants. Be selective in the type of card you send. The safest way is to find a card that says Happy Holiday and is not religious in nature. Best wishes for the coming year are acceptable too. You don’t want anyone to take offense. You should also be aware that you may not want to send the same card to the college students that you do to the senior citizens. Seniors usually appreciate more conservative cards.

Candy
This is great and could be really inexpensive. I have given candy to my tenants by going to the bulk foods section of the grocery and buying hard candy in bulk. Then I repackage it into decorative boxes.

Wine
There are some folks who like to give wine or other liquors at the holidays. My feeling is the same on this topic as it was on the reduction in rent. NEVER. I would rather not promote drinking, or feel even remotely responsible for the problems that come with it.

Fruit Baskets
Good idea. Almost everyone likes fruit and it doesn’t hurt or offend anyone. Jane tells me that she usually gives her tenants boxes of oranges that she buys from the local Rotary. This serves a dual purpose. It supports the charity and it gives a nice present to the tenant.

Pizza, Theatre Tickets, Movie Rental Certificates
Get some gift certificates from the local merchants. These are convenient, easy to deliver and fit the tenant’s schedule.

Plants, Wreaths or Ornaments
Can be great, but watch for religion problems.

Nick Sidoti, R.A.M. is a registered apartment manager, licensed real estate agent, investor, lecturer, author of several real estate courses and President of the Western NY Real Estate Investors. For information on his courses or to submit questions for Nick’s column, please email drcashflow@adelphia.net or visit www.drcashflow.net.

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Affordable Housing Action Strategy

The City of Tacoma considers affordable housing to be a high priority and has developed an Affordable Housing Action Strategy to address this important issue. As part of this process, a Housing Market Policy Dashboard (with associated technical documentation) has also been created to reflect the potential impacts of market-based incentives for income-restricted affordable housing production. 

Background Information 

A strategic overview presented to the City Council on Tuesday, April 10, 2018 had initially outlined the City of Tacoma's intended approach moving forward. 

The current strategy was then developed during an intensive four-month process that included a series of community listening sessions, focus groups and other avenues for public feedback organized by the City and its community partners. 

Looking for answers to frequently asked questions as well as a high-level summary of what was shared during the community listening sessions, focus groups and other public events? Download this handout.  

Prior to the completion of the current strategy, the City Council had received its final update on Tuesday, July 24, 2018. That update included a review of Tacoma's key challenges as it relates to affordable housing, as well as recommended strategic approaches that the City could consider taking.

Key challenges identified: 

• Accelerating housing market conditions
• A limited rental supply
• Households experiencing significant housing cost burdens
• Community members experiencing barriers accessing or staying in housing

Recommended strategic approaches to addressing these key challenges:

• The creation of new housing
• Keeping existing housing affordable and in good repair
• Helping community members stay in their current housing
• Reducing barriers for those who often encounter them

Past efforts relating to affordable housing include the work of the Affordable Housing Policy Advisory Group (AHPAG) formed in 2010. AHPAG developed 25 policy recommendations in seven categories. Many of the policies originating from AHPAG’s policy recommendations have been implemented over phases, culminating with the 2015 adoption of Ordinance No. 28336 which established incentives for affordable housing, among other public benefits, and created more regulatory flexibility for infill development. 

The work of the AHPAG has informed the work the City of Tacoma has done to develop its current strategy. The City also factored in details from the Tacoma 2025 strategic visioning framework, the One Tacoma Comprehensive Plan, and other reports into its current strategy which will align with other initiatives.

Contact Information

Daniel Murillo
(253) 591-5238

Matthew Desmond and his book 'Evicted', explain the affects on a person's life when they have been evicted. However, what isn't be explored is how people can be helped with everyday expenses that allow them to be successful in life so that they can pay rent. Every landlord will tell you that before they start an eviction they have provided an alternative, payment plan or resources to agency who may be able to assist them with paying rent. Eviction are simply a last resort for landlords! A tenant who is unable to pay rent needs the support of their community. Landlords are one member of that community. How are other community members helping to provide or keep tenants in their housing?

From the website www.ndm.org

The National Building Museum announces a new, ground-breaking exhibition exploring the causes and impacts of eviction.

Eviction occurs when renters are forcibly removed from their home by court order. Evictions and the threat of removal are disproportionately experienced by African American single mothers in many cities, but affect people of all backgrounds. An eviction record can mean that a family is now ineligible for other subsidies such as public housing. It can make job-hunting more difficult, if not nearly impossible. Finding a new place to live becomes almost a full-time job, especially in a sprawling metropolitan area without a car.

Housing instability threatens all aspects of family life: health, jobs, school, and personal relationships. Landlords hesitate to rent to those with eviction records, or charge them extra money, causing a devastating negative feedback loop. Children switch schools too often to make friends or be noticed and helped by teachers; neighbors cannot develop bonds; personal belongings are left in storage or out on the street. Americans often take home for granted—homes forms the building blocks of community life—and this stability is under attack when eviction looms.

Here is some helpful information about the new Tacoma Rental Code. Use the link below for additional details, including violations:

https://www.cityoftacoma.org/cms/one.aspx?pageId=163295

1. Verify if your rental property is within the Tacoma city limits.
2. Website to provide in the tenants in the criteria.
3. Link to download Tenant Information Packet
4. Notice of Resources

TENANT INFORMATION PACKET:

The initial distribution of information to tenants must be in written form and landlords shall obtain the tenant’s signature documenting tenant’s receipt of such information. If a tenant refuses to provide a signature documenting the tenant’s receipt of the information, the landlord may draft a declaration stating when and where the landlord provided tenant with the required information. After the initial distribution of the summaries to tenants, a landlord shall provide existing tenants with updated summaries by the City, and may do so in electronic form unless a tenant otherwise requests written summaries.

NOTICE OF RESOURCES:

A landlord is required to provide a copy of a resource summary, prepared by the City, to any tenant when the landlord provides a notice to a tenant under RCW 59.12.030.

VIOLATION:

For a violation of Distribution of information required (TMC 1.95.030), Deposit requirements and installment payments (TMC 1.95.040), Notice requirement generally (TMC 1.95.050), or -14- Ord18-1330amend.doc-DEC/bn 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Notice to increase rent requirements (TMC 1.95.060), a landlord shall be subject to the following penalties:

(1) For the first violation for each affected dwelling unit, $500; and

(2) For each affected dwelling unit for each subsequent violation within a three-year period, $1,000.

b. For a violation of a Notice to vacate (TMC 1.95.070), Tenant Relocation Assistance (TMC 1.95.080), and Retaliation prohibited (TMC 1.95.090.A.2), a landlord shall be subject to the following penalties:

(1) For each violation from the date the violation begins for the first ten days of noncompliance, $250 per day, per dwelling unit;

(2) For each violation for each day beyond ten days of noncompliance until compliance is achieved, $500 per day, per dwelling unit.

To verify if your rental property is in the city limits of Tacoma, use this link. Only rental property in the city limits of Tacoma are subject to the new Tacoma Rental Housing Code.

Public Hearing Scheduled About a Tenant Relocation Assistance Ordinance on October 2

The City of Tacoma will hold a public hearing on a tenant relocation assistance Ordinance at approximately 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 2, 2018 in the Tacoma City Council Chambers (747 Market St. First Floor).

The proposed amendments, if passed, would impose a tenant relocation assistance requirement for low-income tenants in the event the landlord demolishes, substantially rehabilitates or changes the use of a residential property, or when the use restrictions in an assisted-housing development are removed. State law (RCW 59.18.440) authorizes the tenant relocation assistance requirement and the City is proposing to impose this new tenant relocation assistance requirement in the amount of $2,000 per qualified dwelling unit.

Before the City can impose the tenant relocation assistance requirement, state law requires a public hearing for public testimony on what relocation expenses displaced tenants would reasonably incur including:

• Actual physical moving costs and expenses;
• Advance payments required for moving into a new residence, such as the cost of first and last month's rent and security and damage deposits;
• Utility connection fees and deposits; and
• Anticipated additional rent and utility costs in the residence for one year after relocation.

Public comment can also be submitted in writing to the City Clerk’s Office by emailing cityclerk@cityoftacoma.org or in person at the City Clerk’s Office at 733 Market Street, Room 11, Tacoma, WA 98402 by 4 p.m. Tuesday, October 2, 2018.

For additional information about the proposed amendment, please contact M’Balu Bangura, Risk Analyst, Office of Equity and Human Rights, at 253-591-5162.

Landlord Mitigation-Presentation (1)

Landlord Mitigation Fund_Statewide Vendor ID_SWV-Reg-W9