Washington State population hits 8 million

The population in Washington State has reached 8 million people and is forecast to reach 9 million by 2038. According to the Department of Commerce, we need to build 1.1 million housing units by 2044 to keep up with the population growth. More half of those will "need to be affordable for residents at the lowest income levels."

According to the Washington State Office of Financial Management, the annual growth of housing units has ranged between 46,000 and 47,000 per year since 2020.

If this rate holds, Washington State will be adding between 920,000 to 940,000 new housing units over the next 20 years. That’s a deficit of 160,000 to 180,000 housing units over the next 20 years, or between 8,000 to 9,000 units per year. 718,900 of the needed housing units, or about 65%, must be built in just 4 out of 39 counties: Clark, King, Pierce, and Snohomish. With over $35 billion in below-market-rate federal loans available, some of that extra demand may be met by commercial-to-residential conversions. However, if that target is not reached, rents may climb across the state, especially in the 4 biggest counties.

Free Webinar on Tacoma Measure 1

The City of Tacoma’s Office of Equity and Human Rights is holding two online informational sessions on Monday, December 4 to update landlords, tenants, and interested residents about the changes to the city’s rental housing requirements and rules once the Measure 1 ballot initiative goes into effect on December 8. Identical sessions will be held starting at noon and at 5:30 P.M.

The Measure 1 ballot initiative, also known as the Landlord Fairness Code Initiative, includes new rules and requirements on late rent fees, rent increase notifications, evictions, relocation assistance, and more. The Landlord Fairness Code will be in effect along with the City’s Rental Housing Code, which was updated by the City Council in July. The informational sessions will cover all of the new rules and requirements found in both the Landlord Fairness Code Initiative and the Rental Housing Code, as well as how each code will be enforced.

WHAT:               Renting in Tacoma: New Code Information Sessions

WHEN:               Monday, December 4, at Noon or at 5:30 P.M.

JOIN ONLINE: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89006169993?pwd=R3hoU25vZUF5SFlvZ2VhcXlNd1B2QT09

For those who cannot attend either of the live informational sessions on Monday, December 4, a video recording of the sessions will be available on-demand on the City’s website starting December 8th 2023. A link to the video will be available on the City’s homepage at www.cityoftacoma.org.

You can also find and share the QR codes that have the zoom login info about the sessions on all our Social media platforms listed below.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/4oY5H2MtVsnEaNYq/?mibextid=K8Wfd2

http://www.twitter.com/cityoftacoma

http://www.instagram.com/cityoftacoma

For more information about rules and regulations for rental housing in Tacoma, visit the City’s webpages for the Office of Equity & Human Rights.

For more information on the webinar, please visit the City of Tacoma's press release.

Rental Registration Required to File Evictions in Seattle

All owners and managers of property in Seattle should be advised that they must have a current registration with Seattle's Department of Construction and Inspection for their rental unit before they can file any eviction for the unit in question with the courts.

This registration requires all rental property to be inspected at least once every ten years, among other things. Please see 22.205.10 of the Seattle Municipal Code for details.

Links:

Register your rental property with Seattle's Department of Construction and Inspection

Rental Registration Instructions—Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections

Inclement Weather: Delays or Court Closures

In an event of inclement weather, there may be delays in process service. The Courthouse may close, delay opening or close early. For a list of courts, court closures or delays, click on a link below to find out if your court is experiencing a delayed opening or unscheduled closing.

Pierce County Superior Court

King County Superior Court

Kitsap County Superior Court

Thurston County Superior Court

Mason County Superior Court

Grays Harbor County Superior Court

Lewis County Superior Court

Snohomish County Superior Court

If your court is not listed above, click here for a list of Washington State courts.

Additional information may also be available at:

Washington Courts court closures

 

LandlordSolutions 2023 holiday hours

At LandlordSolutions, we believe in taking time to celebrate with loved ones during the holiday season. To ensure that our team can enjoy these special holiday moments, we'll be observing a holiday schedule.




Thanksgiving

Wednesday, November 22nd: closing at noon
Thursday, November 23rd: closed
Friday, November 24th: closed

Christmas

Monday, December 25th: Closed

New Years

Monday, January 1st: Closed

At LandlordSolutions, we value the importance of spending quality time with loved ones during the holidays. We hope you have a fantastic holiday season filled with joy and laughter. If you have any questions or require assistance, don't hesitate to contact us before or after our holiday closures. From all of us at LandlordSolutions, we wish you a happy and peaceful holiday season!

Resources for Homelessness Prevention in Pierce County

People in Pierce county who are at risk of homelessness can turn to a range of different resource to get relief from their situation. Housing providers should be aware of these resources and be prepared to share these resources with at-risk residents.

 

Eviction Prevention and Rental Assistance

Eviction Prevention Rent Assistance Program

WA Eviction Rent Assistance

Youth and Young Adults Eviction Rent Assistance

• Living Access Support Alliance (LASA) (Lakewood city limits): 253-582-5320

Tacoma Ministerial Alliance

• Parkland / Spanaway Our Lady Queen of Heaven: 253-537-5266

St. Vincent De Paul: call 211 for referral to local SVDP affiliate for assistance

• Family Unlimited Network: rent and utility assistance: 253-460-3134

Metropolitan Development Council

• All Saints Community Services: provides financial aid people in the Puyallup ZIP code area 98371 through 98373: 253-848-2000

Eatonville Family Agency: must have a 3 day pay or vacate notice

Families Unlimited Family Advocacy Program: Serves families with children in ZIP codes 98466 and 98467. Must have a pay or vacate notice and owe less than $200

• Gig Harbor Peninsula: serves ZIP code 98329: 253-858-8800

• Martin Luther King Jr Housing Development Agency: must have a 3 day pay or vacate notice: 253-597-4804

• The Department of Commerce’s Commerce Behavioral Health Rental Assistance (CBRA) is a statewide rental assistance resource administered locally in each region. The eligibility criteria is:

 

Housing Authority

Tacoma Housing Authority

Pierce County Housing Authority

 

Coordinated Entry

WA Coordinated Entry Sites

Associated Ministries

Nativity House Shelter

Family Housing Network Family Day Center

Tacoma Rescue Mission Men’s Shelter

 

Emergency Housing

Emergency Housing County Resources

Tacoma Rescue Mission

Nativity House Shelter

Recovery Innovations Community Building: for people struggling with mental health challenges transitioning from Residential Treatment Facilities into a home in the community:

Salvation Army: families and single women

Agape House: Christian ministry resource, requires pastor’s referral. Transitional housing for single men and women as well as one- or two-parent families:

Guadalupe House: clean and sober transitional housing for single adults experiencing homelessness:

Living Access Support Alliance: single and two-parent families

Network Tacoma: single and two-parent families

• Helping Hands House Puyallup & Sumner: one- or two-parent families: 253-848-6096

Aging and Long-Term Care - WA by County: 1-877-501-2233

• Department of Commerce: Emergency Shelter Assistance Program: 1-360-725-4000

Additional Resources

 

Housing Resources for Native Americans

Cowlitz Tribal Housing Services

 

Housing Resources for Veterans

Catholic Community Services Supportive Services for Veteran Families

Pierce County Human Services Veterans Assistance Programs

• House of Matthews Transitional Housing and Rapid Employment: transitional housing in a dormitory style setting: 253-861-1812

• Making a Difference Foundation: transitional housing and shelter: 206-262-7770

Veterans’ Assistance Program

National Call Center for Homeless Veterans: Hotline: 1-877-424-3838 or 1-877-4AID VET – Provides homeless veterans and at-risk veterans free access to trained counselors 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Additional Washington State Resources

WA State Department of Veterans Affairs

Washington State Resources for Veterans, Families & Caregivers

 

Housing Resources for Victims of Domestic Violence

Exodus Housing Safe Choices Program: transitional housing for homeless families with children who are homeless due to domestic violence:

YWCA: single women and women with children

Family Renewal Shelter: for single women and women with children

Tacoma Rescue Mission

Crystal Judson Family Justice Center: 800-764-2420; email familyjusticecenter@co.pierce.wa.us

 

Community Action

Pierce County Human Services

Washington State Community Action Partners

 

Affordable Housing Options

Pierce County Human Services Low-Income Housing

Pierce County Housing Authority Apartments

Tacoma Low Income Housing

PublicHousing.com

Apartment Finder

Padmapper

Affordable Housing Online

LIHI Housing Options - 1-206-442-9455

Additional resources

 

Legal Assistance

Pierce County Human Services

Tacoma Pro Bono

YWCA Pierce County Legal Services

Northwest Justice Project

• Legal assistance

 

Statewide Hotlines

WA State Mental Health Services – National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255

WA State Recovery Help Line: 1-866-789-1511

WIN 211 - Washington Information Network: 1-877-211-9274

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233

Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence: 1-206-389-2515

 

Additional Resources

Attacks on the Vote No On Measure 1 campaign

Tacoma for All is using the media to spread misleading attacks against "Vote No On Measure 1." Recent stories in Q13 Fox and the Tacoma News Tribune highlight these dirty tricks to confuse voters. Let's fact check their claims:


Lie #1
: Ty Moore claimed that we are spreading disinformation by saying that Measure 1 puts the gains from new tenant protection laws passed in July 2023 at risk.

Lie #2: Proponents of Measure 1 claim that the Vote No On Measure 1 campaign is funded by outside money.

Lie #3: The Vote No On Measure 1 campaign broke campaign financing rules

5 Tips for Running an Effective Eviction Process

Evictions are incredibly stressful for everyone involved. In Washington state, residential tenants have many rights that can allow them to remain in a property for what may seem like an eternity. While these tenants still owe the rent on the property, they will continue to occupy the property during the eviction process, often without paying rent. Experience shows that many housing providers never see a dime of the rent that accrues during the eviction. Even worse, some people have become “professional tenants,” experts at milking the system and living rent free as they bounce between properties. 

In Washington state, housing rights activists have become proficient at using technicalities, administrative errors, and other methods to drag out the eviction process at the expense of the housing provider. Even a small mistake can result in a dismissal, forcing the housing provider to start the eviction process from the beginning and costing them thousands of dollars in legal fees and missed rent payments. Current legislation already makes it difficult to win an eviction decision in Washington, but some common mistakes can result in additional months or even years of unpaid rent. In this blog post, we will share our 5 most effective tips to increase the chances of a successful eviction. 

 

#1 – Using the correct forms  

Unfortunately for housing providers, eviction laws in Washington state have changed significantly over the past decade. To add more complexity to the mix, different cities may require different forms to be served and renters with housing subsidies like Section 8 may require service of different forms or additional language in the forms. Failure to serve the correct forms or the correct language may be grounds for your case to get dismissed. 

Housing providers need to ensure that their actual eviction notice is compliant. Some housing providers served their renters 3-day notices or 20-day notices, neither of which are compliant with the most recent RCWs. In Washington state, housing providers usually issue a 14-day notice or a 30-day notice to Pay or Vacate. There are additional rules and restrictions when it comes to Notices to Terminate Tenancy as Washington state law requires “just cause” to terminate a rental agreement. Contact us if you have questions about required forms for your eviction process. 

 

#2 – Serving the notices properly 

Some housing providers attempt to serve notices themselves, a practice that can often lead to unintended slip-ups that result in a case dismissal. Some of the most common process service mistakes include not serving enough copies and/or not serving additional required city notices. We recommend working with a licensed professional process server to make sure that all the required documents and notices are served in compliance with all relevant regulations. 

 

#3 – Gathering all the required documents 

Many renters will continue to fight the eviction after all required notices have been properly served. Often, these cases will need to be settled in court. Before preparing for the courtroom, a housing provider should focus on gathering all the required documents. Documents include:
 

 

#4 – Preparing for the court hearing 

Housing providers are encouraged to review the tenant's file thoroughly before the hearing. Plaintiffs will be testifying under oath about their personal knowledge of the matter. We recommend housing providers answer only the questions asked and not to get sidetracked in providing information not relevant to the question. Housing providers are also encouraged to visit the unit in question the day before the hearing to visibly verify that the renter has not yet vacated the property. In court, you can expect to be asked some of the following questions: 

 

#5 – Consulting with an expert 

The eviction process can be challenging to manage, and mistakes can prove costly. If this all seems like too much to handle, let LandlordSolutions help you manage your eviction process. Contact us about your upcoming eviction and let us do the heavy lifting! 

Get Involved to Stop Measure 1

 

LandlordSolutions covered the dangers that Measure 1 poses to Tacoma's housing market in a previous blog post. If Measure 1 passes, it may lead to an increase in prices and make it more difficult for renters to find housing in Tacoma. Research put together by the RHA shows that a similar law passed in Seattle resulted in a loss of 5,000 affordable housing units, a decrease of 22%.

 

 

If Tacoma loses over 20% of its affordable housing units, rents may increase for all residents. Measure 1 would also make it more difficult to evict renters who are causing problems for other residents and place a heavy financial burden on local housing providers. If you feel strongly about opposing Measure 1, LandlordSolutions has put together some resources for you to get involved in the campaign to defeat this initiative.

 

Get Involved!

1. Voter pamphlets will be mailed out on October 20th. Don't forget to Vote No!

 

2. Share the Vote No on Measure 1 website, RHA's Measure 1 website, and the Measure 1 One Pager with your network.

 

3. Share the Vote No video on social media.

 

4. Volunteer with the RHA for doorbelling, Rah Rah Squad, speaking opportunities, and more.

 

5. Attend the RHA Link Meeting in Tacoma on Wednesday, October 18th.

 

6. Reach out to advocacy@tpcar.org or dbannon@rhawa.org for additional resources or guidance.

7. Initiative petition language:

Initiative and Referendum Process - City of Tacoma

https://www.cityoftacoma.org/cms/One.aspx?portalId=169&pageId=167080

If you expand the ‘2023 Initiative Petitions’ button near the top of the page you will see a list of links.

A link to the full text of Petition No. 1, which became Measure No. 1 on the ballot is here:

http://cms.cityoftacoma.org/cityclerk/files/Documents/2023InitiativePetition/2023-01_FullLanguageWeb.pdf

8. Washington Observer - Realtors go big against Tacoma eviction ban

9. Like and follow the No on Tacoma Measure 1 Facebook page