Act Now For Rent Fairness
We need rent stabilization!
Help seniors, single parents, Veterans
stay in their homes
Rent Stabilization is Rent Fairness
Shelter is a basic human need, essential for equitable, healthy, safe, and stable communities.
Rent gouging, excessive fees, and short notice of rent increases destabilize families and workers and worsens the housing crisis.
- Nearly 40% of Washingtonian households are renters.
- Hundreds of renters from across Washington continue to share their excessive rent increase experiences. Share yours.
Lawmakers in Olympia can help tens of thousands of seniors, single parents, veterans and other low income renters stay in their homes through rent stabilization.
Previously considered legislation has included:
- Reasonable and more predictable rent increases: Allow landlords to increase rent up to 7% per year. Landlords can increase rent for each new tenant.
- Ensure that fees count as rent for the purposes of calculating an increase.
- Require 6 months’ notice for any rent increase of 3% or more.
- Limit move-in fees to the equivalent of one months’ rent or less.
- Limit late fees to 1.5% of monthly rent.
Rent Stabilization is Different From Rent Control
Frequently Asked Questions
Rental rate increases are far outpacing family incomes and skyrocketing past inflation (Consumer Price Index).
Many low income households pay more than 50% of their incomes to rent.
Rent increases are forcing vulnerable populations like seniors, single parents, and veterans to grapple with impossible choices between paying the rent, or paying for medication, food and other basic needs.
Studies show that every $100 in median rent increases leads to a 9% increase in homelessness.
Rent stabilization is not the same as rent control.
Rent control: commonly includes freezing rents indefinitely, some kind of government board control, and lease assignability to family members or roommates. (Despite its bad reputation with some, the term “rent control” appears to be popular with Washington voters, according to a recent survey by the WA State Department of Commerce (p. 56).)
Rent stabilization: uses a balanced package of tools – such as tying rent increases to inflation – to help low income tenants stay in their homes while recognizing that there are times when it is appropriate and fair to provide landlords with more flexibility or even exemptions.
Rent stabilization bills provide a balanced approach, allowing landlords to increase rents up to 7% each year for continuing tenants.
Rental rates are skyrocketing across the state. Some examples are:
Seattle Area (Mar. 2020 – Aug 2022) | ⬆️17.0% |
Spokane (Mar. 2020 – Mar. 2021) | ⬆️32.0% |
Tacoma (Oct. 2020 – Oct. 2021) | ⬆️18.9% |
Pasco (Jan. 2022 – Jan. 2023) | ⬆️15.0% |
Yakima (2019- 2022) | ⬆️29.7% |
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard (2019- 2022) | ⬆️40.7% |
Mount Vernon-Anacortes (2019- 2022) | ⬆️33.2% |
What would rent stabilization mean for you?
You’ve got this!
TIP: Hold your camera sideways (horizontally), and make sure you are in good light. You can practice as many times as you want. You have up to two minutes to talk.
My name is ____.
Having stable rent would make my life better because ________.
Please help people stay in their homes by passing rent stabilization bills.
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Your gift today will make sure more of our neighbors have a safe, affordable place to live.
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Washington Low Income Housing Alliance