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In the first week of June, all the changes that passes state legislature in the 2024 legislative session went into effect. This includes several of the ballot initiatives that have previously passed which I covered last month. Following the notable success of the aforementioned ballot initiatives which caused quite a stir in Washington state, the organization Let’s Go Washington has proposed yet another ballot initiative for 2024.
Before delving in to the new initiative, let’s get a better understanding of the advocacy group Let’s Go Washington. Let’s Go Washington is a bipartisan advocacy group spearheaded by Brian Heywood who is a hedge fund manager and farmer. He is a self-described conservative and libertarian who strongly believes in the value of the free market. Heywood hopes to bring more balance to Washington State through his group which will continue to champion public facing ballot initiatives which are proving remarkable effective in our current political landscape. It is important to note that while Heywood is clearly a conservative individual, Let’s Go Washington is advertised as a bipartisan organization focused on balance, on their website it is stated:
“Let’s Go Washington has no political party affiliation and is proud to work with legislators and supporters on both sides of the aisle. Though the opposition tries to spin lies about party affiliation, over 57% of signers were Democrat or Independent. We are proud to be working with a diverse coalition of supporters from many different political backgrounds as we fix what’s broken.”
“Fix what’s broken!” is their tagline and serves as the motivation for the advocacy group. They have now set their sights on recently passed legislation in Washington State which prohibits new builds from using natural gas heating and appliances by 2031.
Initiative 2066: ‘Stop the Gas Ban, Protect Energy Choice’ aims to keep options open for builders which would allow for the continues use of natural gas in new construction as well as renovations.
“This measure would require utilities and local governments to provide natural gas to eligible customers; prevent state approval of rate plans requiring or incentivizing gas service termination, restricting access to gas service, or making it cost-prohibitive; and prohibit the state energy code, localities, and air pollution control agencies from penalizing gas use. It would repeal sections of chapter 351, Laws of 2024, including planning requirements for cost-effective electrification and prohibitions on gas rebates and incentives.”
According to Let’s Go Washington’s website:
• Signing Initiative 2066 gives voters the power to:
• Protect natural gas for heating, cooking and more.
• Stop state and local governments, and their agencies, from banning, restricting, or discouraging gas and gas appliances in homes and businesses, like restaurants.
• Make sure gas utilities will continue to provide natural gas to customers who want it.
• Stop the state from limiting natural gas service to homes and businesses, like restaurants and breweries.
• Protect people from having to switch to only electric energy.
• Keep the power on when our energy grid is at capacity in super cold or hot weather.
Signing Initiative 2066 does NOT:
• Force anyone to use gas or gas appliances – I-2066 just lets you choose.
• Take away any energy incentives and rebates for those who choose them.
• Reduce the state’s commitment to addressing climate change.
The previous ballot initiatives caused a bigger stir in the state than anyone was expecting and it will be interesting to not only see what Let’s Go Washington proposes next, but also how this method of grassroots advocacy will become more prominent over the next several legislative cycles.
By the time you are reading this article, it is likely that the signature deadline for this initiative has passed. Check out Let’s Go Washington’s website to learn more about I-2066 as well as their future efforts.
Board Administrator
Jim Nell: jnell@RHAwa.org
Business Development Specialist
Luke Brown: (206) 905-0610
Creative Director
Sisi Mereness: (206) 905-0605
Deputy Director
Melissa Canfield: (206) 905-0615
Education + Resources Director
Denise Myers: (206) 905-0614
External Affairs Manager
Corey Hjalseth: (206) 905-0603
Grassroots Organizer
Daniel Bannon: (206) 905-0609
Member Services Specialist (Resource Desk)
Sue Lewis: RHAwa.org/supportcenter
Member Services Specialist
Val Kushi: (206) 283-0816
Membership Development + Gov. Affairs
Daniel Klemme: (206) 905-0611
Policy + Communications
Tim Hatley: (206) 905-0601
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Denise Myers | Education + Resources Director | dmyers@RHAwa.org | (206) 905-0614
All class sessions are presented online only unless otherwise specified. For all ONLINE classes, 30-day access to a recording of the session is included. Subscribe to the Class Pass for 12-months' access to live weekly ONLINE classes for $250 AND/OR subscribe to our complete ONDEMAND Library for $25/month or $120/year at RHAwa.org/products/classPasses.
When: Thursday, July 4
When: Wednesday, July 10 | 3-4:30pm
Cost: $30 Members | $200 Freemium Subscribers
With over 30 years practicing landlord-tenant law, and over 40 years owning and managing Seattle area rental property, RHAWA legal counsel Chris Benis will highlight important best practices for Seattle housing providers while explaining related rental regulations, both old and new. Whether you are a seasoned landlord, or new to the business, do not miss this chance to get your questions answered as you approach today's challenges when operating a rental property in the City of Seattle.
Casual member meetings with topical discussions. No fee, simply order and pay for food at restaurant venues.
• Claim Jumper, Tukwila | RHAWA Vendors | Tuesday, July 9, 6:30-8pm
• Dave & Buster's, Bellevue | RHAWA Vendors | Tuesday, July 16, 6-8pm
• Ben Dews Clubhouse Grill, Tacoma | RHAWA Vendors | Thursday, July 18, 6-7:30pm
• Bob’s Burgers, Everett | RHAWA Vendors | Thursday, July 18, 6:30-8pm
*Meeting time and subject may change. Please check the calendar at RHAwa.org/events.
When: Thursday, July 18 | 12-1pm
Cost: $30 Members | $60 Freemium Subscribers | $90 Guests
This is part of a 12-part series designed for Property Managers and is also suitable for owners and other Washington housing providers. In this session, you will learn best practices for starting a new tenancy. We will explore:
• Setting lease terms to comply with all local laws
• Reviewing expectations and properly executing the lease
• Welcoming new tenants and move-in logistics
Instructor: Kathryn Shabalov
When: Wednesday, July 24 | 2-3:30pm
Cost: $30 Members | $60 Freemium Subscribers | $90 Guests
How do we become the best landlords we can be? How do we resolve the myriad issues that come up with our tenants and properties while maintaining our sense of integrity and calm? Marcia McReynolds, our facilitator, will help us look at our specific issues through the lens of the four agreements as described in the iconic book The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz. The class will be participatory and fun while looking at various ways we can handle the issues that often flummox us as landlords.
When: Thursday, July 31 | 3:40pm
Cost: $30 Members | $60 Freemium Subscribers | $90 Guests
Did you know that taking depreciation is required by the IRS? Even if you do not take depreciation write offs over the years, you are required to pay tax on the allowable depreciation when you sell the property. CPA and Managing Partner of Hutchinson & Walter, Nika Toce will explain this complicated and little understood aspect of rental property taxation in this 90-minute online session. Learn when and what to depreciate, how to distinguish improvements from repairs, how to set up and manage your depreciation schedule, how to make amendments and more.
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Denise Myers | Education + Resources Director | dmyers@RHAwa.org | (206) 905-0614
Some new laws came and ended along with the pandemic. Others are lingering, some are here for good, and new local laws keep popping up. Washington State housing providers are left confused and unsure of what to do when a tenant is late with rent. Here are the laws and best practices broken down in steps.
It is best practice to communicate with the tenant to confirm there is a real problem with paying rent before proceeding with a late fee or an expensive service of a Pay or Vacate notice. It may be a simple error that can be quickly corrected with no additional costs for anyone. Make sure that this email and/ or letter clearly states that rent is late as
this is important information to document in the tenant’s file.
Optional: If the tenant has a shortterm financial problem, consider offering a payment plan. If you are using RHAWA’s new partner platform, Azibo a third-party payment plan option is included and available directly to the tenant at any time. If not, use our new post-COVID version of the Invoice and Payment Schedule for Past-Due Rent form to document your negotiated direct payment terms. Keep in mind, this step is only required for rent that went unpaid during the pandemic. However, it can still a best practice based on the tenant’s circumstances.
Set your late fee policies in Section 2 of your RHAWA lease and follow them consistently and equally with all tenants. While there are no specific state laws that regulate the amount housing providers can charge for late fees, There are several local law caps listed below:
Local Late Rent Fee Caps:
• Auburn: $10 cap, no other charges permitted.
• Burien: $10 cap, no other charges permitted.
• Kenmore: 1.5% cap.
• King County (unincorporated areas): 1.5% cap.
• Olympia: $10 cap, no other charges permitted.
• Redmond: 1.5% cap.
• SeaTac: 2% cap, no other charges permitted.
• Seattle: $10 cap, no other charges permitted.
• Tacoma: $10 cap, no other charges permitted.
Outside of these areas, late charge can be based on a percentage of the rent, a flat fee, or a per-day late fee that accrues. However, fees exceeding 10% of rent in any given month are generally considered excessive. Payment of late fees may not be included as a compliance requirement on a 14-Day Pay or Vacate, nor a 10-Day Comply or Vacate notice.
Continued on page 6
Example: If rent is due on May 1, you may not charge late fees until May 7, at which time you may charge for all 6 days past due (see example in Table 1).
5
As of 2020, RCW 59.18.170 prohibits housing providers from charging late fees until the rent is more than five days past due. If the late fee policy is on a per-day basis, the housing provider may charge fees for all days past due.
After Covid-era restrictions were lifted, many county courts began following slightly different procedures. It is important to speak to your attorney for advice before serving a pay or va-
cate notice, especially if you anticipate needing to follow through with eviction proceedings. If you do not have a working relationship with an attorney, it is important to form one as soon as possible if you think you might be facing an eviction.
If and when it is clear that the tenant is not likely to pay rent within a reasonable time, properly serve the appropriate Pay or Vacate Notice on the tenant(s)
based on the location of the property, and whether or not the property is supported by any federal programs including Housing Choice Voucher Program or a federally backed mortgage loan (e.g., Fanny Mae or Freddy Mac). See Support Center article, Guidance for Vacate Notices on CARES Act Covered Properties. Carefully follow the service instructions provided and retain the declaration of service as proof of proper service.
Hopefully, the tenant will pay rent or
late Can charge fees for all days past due.
move out within the given time period. If not, your attorney will begin the eviction process by serving an “unlawful detainer notice.” In King County, most evictions are taking a full year. In other counties, the timeline varies starting with a few months.
In Seattle and now Tacoma, physical evictions by the Sherriff can be delayed further so that tenants are not forced to leave in the Winter or for students and educators, during the school year.
Formal legal advice and review is recommended prior to selection and use of this information. RHAWA does not represent your selection or execution of this information as appropriate for your specific circumstance. The material contained and represented herein, although obtained from reliable sources, is not considered legal advice or to be used as a substitution for legal counsel.
2. In some cases, it makes sense to offer the tenant a paymentplan with monthly _________.
4. This federal government act requires that tenants in propertiesbenefitting from any federal program are given at least 30 days topay or vacate.
5. If the tenant does not vacate (move out) and does not pay rentby the deadline, your attorney can serve an Unlawful _______Notice to get the eviction procedure started.
Denise Myers | Education + Resources Director |
Join the Rental Housing Association of Washington at ENGAGE, a new annual conference designed to foster conversations, collaborations, and productive exchange across the rental housing industry, including owners, developers, operators, legislators, and other housing professionals. Our programming will provide education on rental operations, techniques for portfolio expansion as well as lively policy discussions to shape recommendations for the upcoming legislative session. This can’tmiss event is for anyone managing a property or serving in an advocacy role within Washington state.
The Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue, WA, offers a premier location for ENGAGE 2024, combining modern facilities with a strategic position in the heart of the Pacific Northwest. Situated in the bustling downtown area of Bellevue, attendees have easy access to a variety of dining, shopping, and entertainment options, enhancing their overall event experience.
The center's proximity to Seattle ensures convenient transportation options for attendees traveling from various parts of the state and beyond. This prime location will allow local and outof-town guests to fully engage in the event while enjoying the vibrant amenities Bellevue has to offer.
The Meydenbauer Center's versatile event spaces cater perfectly to the diverse needs of ENGAGE 2024. From the grand theater, ideal for captivating keynote speeches, to the array of breakout rooms tailored for interactive
sessions and workshops, every aspect of the venue is meticulously designed to facilitate engagement and productivity. Furthermore, the spacious exhibitor hall provides ample room for networking opportunities and highlighting the latest innovations in the rental housing industry.
• Plenty of space for a larger event with more people.
• All activities will take place on a single level of the building.
• Delicious refreshments including continental breakfast, buffet lunch, snacks, and happy hour.
• Complimentary basic Wi-Fi.
• Attached parking garage with sufficient space.
This all-day event will boast four tracks, each with four 45-minute breakout sessions. To ensure you do not miss valuable insights, we will provide attendees with presentation slides and audio recordings of each session for future reference.
• A Morning Keynote: presented by the Chairperson of a leading real estate investment company specializing in multifamily and commercial real estate. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, they maintain a diversified portfolio of quality investments across the US.
• Track 1 | Rental Operations: Review and discussion of key laws and best practices for Washington State rental housing operations. Each session will be led by an at-
torney or seasoned property management professional.
• Track 2 | Investor Development & Supply: More investment in new housing will relieve the shortage and slow down or even reverse onerous legislation that has been crippling many investors. Review and discuss opportunities and hone your skills for evaluating deals in today’s market under current and proposed legislation and programs.
• Track 3 | Policy Discussion: Learn about key legislation impacting our industry – some we oppose and some that we are proposing. Watch legislators and industry leaders come together to discuss the issues.
• Track 4 | Public Affairs & Advocacy: Our voice is our strength. Learn how to use your voice to help our policy makers truly understand the issues and how to fix the housing crisis instead of suppressing housing with excessive burden. Our lobbyists, volunteer activists, media professionals and
others will share experiences and lessons learned.
• Afternoon Keynote: Our closing keynote will leave us with a positive outlook and a path forward for fixing the housing issues in Washington.
In addition to the formal programing, attendees will have plenty of time to talk with service providers, industry leaders, government representatives, and other housing providers. Excellent food and refreshments will be provided throughout the day, and if you can stay for happy hour, enjoy the hosted bar as well.
Early Bird Registration–Act Now! Don't miss out on the chance to attend ENGAGE 2024 at a discounted rate. Early bird pricing is available until August 1, offering significant savings for those who register in advance. With invitations going out beyond RHAWA members to other housing industry organizations, we anticipate selling out. So, make sure to sign up early!
Go to RHAwa.org/ENGAGE24 for full details and registration.
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Denise Myers | Education + Resources Director | dmyers@RHAwa.org |
(206) 905-0614
The City of Bellingham began developing rental regulations in 2015 with the introduction of a registration and inspection program. In 2018, another ordinance added some tenant protections including a prohibition of source of income discrimination, extended rent increase notice and termination notice. In 2023, a voter initiative created additional resident rights in the City of Bellingham. The resulting city codes apply to all tenancies governed by RCW 59.18 (Residential Rentals) and include the following chapters:
City of Bellingham code on Source of Income Discrimination in housing mirrors the state law under RCW 59.18.255, both effective in 2018. See article Work with Rental Assistance Programs for details. The city code varies slightly as follows:
• The City of Bellingham can fine a housing provider from $500 to $1000 for failing to comply with
this code based on the number of offenses.
• Exception: Does not apply where the owner shares the dwelling unit with the tenant.
• At least 120 days notice is required for rent increases of any amount. (This was changed by voter initiative 2023-02 from the previous 60days notice for increases of 10% or more.)
• Exception: Does not apply where the owner shares the dwelling unit with the tenant.
• A landlord and tenant may ONLY agree, in writing, to waive specific requirements of this chapter if all of the following conditions have been met:
o The agreement to waive specific provisions is in writing and identifies the specific provisions to be waived; and
o The agreement does not appear in
a standard form written lease or rental agreement; and
o There is no substantial inequality in the bargaining position of the two parties; and
o The attorney for the tenant has approved the agreement.
In 2018, Bellingham adopted a 60-day "no cause" termination notice which at the time superseded the WA State 20day "no cause" termination notice. The WA State "just cause termination" (see Support Center article Good Cause to End Tenancy (Statewide Guide) for details) now supersedes this 60-day no cause notice.
While any rent increase requires 120 days’ notice, if the total rent increase is 8% or more over a 12 month rolling
period, there are a number of additional notice requirements, and the tenant will be eligible for relocation assistance if they move due to the increase.
• The notice shall be delivered in the manner required by RCW 59.12.040
• The notice shall include the following:
1. the amount of the increase; 2. the total amount of the new rent or associated housing costs;
3. the date when the increase becomes effective;
4. a rationale for the rent increase;
5. the total amount of relocation assistance available under the Bellingham Municipal Code to tenants of the unit upon displacement; and
6. the rights of under the Bellingham Municipal Code (a) to request economic displacement relocation assistance within 45
days of receipt of the increase notice; (b) that if the tenant receives relocation assistance as provided under the Bellingham Municipal Code, the tenant shall have a relocation period of 5 months from the date of receipt of the assistance; and (c) that at the conclusion of the relocation period, if the tenant remains in the dwelling unit, the tenant shall be obligated to pay the increased rent in accordance with the increase notice for the duration of the tenant’s occupancy and to repay the relocation assistance.
If an increase is 8% or more, the tenant may provide a request for relocation assistance to the landlord within 45 days of receiving a notice of rent increase greater than . Within 31 calendar days of receiving the tenant’s notice, the landlord shall pay: Either a sum equaling three times the current fair market rent for Bellingham, WA as defined by HUD the Housing and Urban Development Office of Policy Development and Research for an apartment of the same size; or three times the tenant’s existing monthly rent, whichever is larger.
The landlord shall notify the city of
all requests for relocation assistance within 30 days of each request and of all payments of relocation assistance within 30 days of each payment.
The economic displacement relocation payment requirement does not apply to: (a) A landlord and tenant living on the same site if the site has four or fewer dwelling units; (b) Tenants who have lived in the dwelling unit for less than six months; or (c) Transitional housing.
Rental registration requirements were implemented in Bellingham in 2015.
Another ordinance in 2024 made inspection required before renting instead of the previous "declaration of compliance." All rental properties in the City of Bellingham must now:
• Be registered.
• Get a safety inspection before renting.
• Have their rental license renewed every year.
• Be inspected approximately every 3-3.5 years (during the assigned quarter).
See https://cob.org/services/permits/ rentals for full details and current fees.
Formal legal advice and review is recommended prior to selection and use of this information. RHAWA does not represent your selection or execution of this information as appropriate for your specific circumstance. The material contained and represented herein, although obtained from reliable sources, is not considered legal advice or to be used as a substitution for legal counsel.
Corey Hjalseth | External Affairs Manager | chjalseth@RHAwa.org
If you watched any of the testimony against HB 2114 during the 2024 legislative session, then you may have seen Morgan Shook of ECOnorthwest elaborating on why rent control is bad policy and leads to rising costs on current rental units as well as disincentives builders. I had a great conversation with Morgan where we discussed not just housing policy in Washington State, but the effect all over the country.
We briefly discussed the history of rent control and how many of the cities that still maintain rent control have had these on the books since the early 1970’s. Rent control is an extremely politically charged policy and difficult policy to remove once implemented. However, Massachusetts removed their rent control by voter initiative in 1994. A case study focused on Cambridge Massachusetts showed that permits for new buildings increased by 20% in the first year without rent control and property values rose nearly $2 billion dollars more than expected over the first decade. This led to a vast increase in property tax revenue and investment in the sister city to Boston.
We dove deeper into a Stanford study released in 2018 that really examined the long-term effects of rent control policies in the city of San Francisco which chose to expand rent control in the 1990’s rather than repeal the policy.
“In a very short-term perspective that price control was very beneficial to a lot of folks and particularly folks who are very disadvantaged and at the sort of fringes of the housing market. You cap their rent, they were able to kind of stay in those places,” Shook said and talked a little more in detail about how the policy meant to help the disadvantaged eventually ended up helping much wealthier families and individuals with their housing. “But then as you looked over time, those folks left and were replaced with
...what do we know about the underlying problem with respect and I think for policymakers to really understand? “ “
– Morgan Shook of ECOnorthwest
other folks who were not necessarily at the same level of disadvantage who were occupying some of those units.”
Morgan and I discussed how many of the units that were rentals were either upgraded to nicer units to entice higher-income individuals or were simply taken off the rental market and sold to be owner-occupied. Much of the new construction in San Francisco has been geared toward wealthier and more affluent individuals since the mid-90s as a result of rent control policies and this has accelerated gentrification in the city by the bay.
Morgan put together a research study about the unintended consequences of rent control policies and how those may impact rental housing affordability and availability in the Evergreen State.
“Investment in Washington Housing is a very key part of our tax base given our, I would call them, unique proper-
ty tax laws and the fact that sales tax is collected on construction activities. So, the point of this being here is to say, what do we know about the underlying problem with respect and I think for policymakers to really understand? A lot of this is because we are not producing enough housing. That is the central piece,” Shook said as he elaborated on how the combo of struggling tenants and rent control in addition to low construction rates end up causing a domino effect problem. “How does rent control then sit on top of that, given the best information that we have? And in sort of older or more strict forms of that, we would expect to have what we see in other places sort of unintended long-term consequences with respect to the housing problem. So, the underlying problem, you’ve actually made worse.”
We discussed how some local policies such as those passed in Seattle, have led to detrimental outcomes for the rental market in our state’s biggest city.
“People have choices and here right the choice is really about do I keep it in the rental pool, or do I do something else with it? In a lot of those cases, the choice was to sell. It was converted from a renter occupancy to a single-family occupancy. So, you actually have a net loss of housing in this space for rentals.”
Morgan concluded in his study for ECOnorthwest that some form of tenant rental assistance program could really make a meaningful impact on tenants having trouble with paying their rent.
For my full interview with Morgan Shook of ECOnorthwest, check out the RHAWA Housing Matters podcast available on all popular podcast platforms. If you prefer the video version, that is always available on the RHAWA YouTube channel along with a lot of other great video content.
RHAWA Advocacy Team | advocacy@RHAwa.org
This spring has brought a bit of a slowdown compared to the winter months in local jurisdictions proposing new rental regulations due primarily to their review of updates to the state-mandated requirements to their comprehensive plans. However, this does not mean new housing regulation discussions are not occurring.
While adoption of new policy language in a comprehensive plan does not automatically impose a new rental regulation, it can begin the process of the drafting, consideration, and potential adoption of any new policy proposal.
Updates to comprehensive plans must be adopted by the end of 2024, so expect a flurry of new proposed language being floated in the next few months.
On May 22, 2024, the Burien City Council adopted legislation to reduce the fee for non-compliance of not obtaining a business license to participate in the city’s Rental Housing Inspection Program from $400 per day to $250 per day. Burien requires rental housing to be inspected once every three years.
——
At the May 22, 2024, of the Bremerton City Council, the city Auditor provided a report that suggested there are
approximately 1,800 residential properties in the city with characteristics of a rental property and owners who do not appear to be registered in the City’s Landlord License database. Efforts are underway for the city to continue to fine-tune their tracking of suspected unlicensed rental housing owners
Look for Renton to begin to consider enacting a 180-day rent increase notice. As part of Renton’s review of updates to their Comprehensive Plan, Berk Consulting was retained by the city to develop a series of Middle Housing Policy Recommendations. One suggested requiring additional time for rent increase notices. The report states, “Such a policy could help to prevent displacement by giving tenants a longer period to find new housing or to financially plan for and adapt to the increase in housing costs. This policy could also reduce eviction rates that have historically, and disproportionality affected BIPOC residents.”
Transportation Levy to Move is a nineyear $1.45 billion property tax ballot measure proposed by Mayor Bruce Harrell to fund sidewalk upgrades, bridge maintenance, pavement projects, and other city transportation improvements. Transportation Levy to Move would replace the expiring $930 million transportation levy which was approved by Seattle voters in 2015
with 56.5% of the vote. Levy to Move would cost the owner of a $804,000 median-price home roughly $500 a year, a $200 increase from the expiring levy. The city council is currently reviewing the mayor’s proposal and amendments to increase funding have already been proposed. Expect the measure to be on the November 6, 2024, ballot.
Another tax measure that could be headed for the November ballot in Seattle would impose a new 5% marginal payroll tax on corporations with employees who make $1 million per year or more. Initiative 137, sponsored by a group called House Our Neighbors, is estimated to generate $52 million a year. Lauded as Social Housing, the group hopes the funding would acquire or construct roughly 2,000 units over the next ten years. To gain access to the November ballot, the group needs to secure 35,000 initiative signatures by July 1, 2024. As of the end of May, the group claimed they were only 8,700 short of their goal.
Seattle City Council member Tanya Woo, who was appointed by the council this winter to fill the seat vacated by former city Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda who was elected to the King County Council, will also be on the ballot this fall in the hope of completing the term which expires in 2027. Councilmember Woo is facing three challengers.
City Council Passes Cooling Ordinance
On June 10th, the Spokane City Council unanimously passed an amended ordinance prohibiting rental housing providers from banning tenants from installing air conditioners. Introduced by Councilwoman Kitty Klitzke, the ordinance takes effect in mid-July and allows year-round use of air conditioners. Rental housing providers can manage installation, removal, and inspection to prevent unreasonable damage. This ordinance reflects a trend of passing narrowly scoped landlord-tenant laws, a strategy RHAWA will monitor closely.
The latest Point-in-Time Count Survey shows a 15% reduction in Spokane County’s homeless population, reversing a yearslong upward trend. The 2024 survey counted 2,021 individuals, down from 2,390 in 2023. Contributing factors include the closure of Camp Hope and increased emergency shelter capacity. While promising, data accuracy remains a concern, and ongoing efforts will focus on comprehensive support and improved data collection.
Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown has declared a citywide emergency in response to the opioid crisis, particularly around Second Avenue and Division Street. This declaration aims to increase police patrols and provide more resources for drug treatment and recovery. This highlights ongoing public health challenges and the need for a coordinated response.
Supreme Court to Review Homeless Camping Ban
The state Supreme Court will review
a law approved by Spokane voters last November that restricts homeless camping within most of the city. Despite passing with 75% voter support, enforcement is on hold due to potential legal risks. RHAWA will keep an eye on these developments, as landlord-tenant law ordinances are often influenced by states of emergency and homelessness issues.
The proposed rental ordinance discussed in the Committee of the Whole in Late April was discussed in the Planning and Community Development Committee on June 10th along with testimony about the harmful impacts to housing providers. Just as a reminder, this ordinance proposes:
• Would cap late fees at 1.5%
• No longer make a social security number a required aspect of screening.
• Would Require rental housing providers to provide written summaries of rights and obligations
• Cap upfront costs over the first month’s rent at one month’s rent, with a right to pay in installments over six months.
• Prohibit the collection of a security deposit unless a rental agreement is in writing and a written checklist or statement describing the unit's condition is provided to the tenant.
The ordinance was recommended to be moved to a council work session.
King County Superior Court adopted an emergency rule in late May allowing housing providers to seek a trial more quickly for eviction proceedings when they show evidence that a tenant’s behavior is “substantially” affecting other tenants’ health and safety or increasing fire or accident hazards. The emergency rule is intended to partially address the enormous backlog of eviction cases currently pending in the King County court system.
King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn introduced a motion requesting the county executive to develop a policy prohibiting county-funded eviction and rental assistance programs from households above 200 percent of the federal poverty level. The legislation also requests the executive to develop an accounting of funding received by the Housing Justice Project including a detailed summary of the outcome of each eviction prevention rental assistance case provided by the organization and the average time for resolution.
Formal legal advice and review is recommended prior to selection and use of this information. RHAWA does not represent your selection or execution of this information as appropriate for your specific circumstance. The material contained and represented herein, although obtained from reliable sources, is not considered legal advice or to be used as a substitution for legal counsel.
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Tim Hatley | Policy + Communications | thatley@RHAwa.org
While the rematch of the Biden v. Trump battle will capture the bulk of the political national media attention over the course of the summer, there is a lot more than that going on this election cycle in Washington state. In addition to the Washington state governor race, other statewide offices, and several key state legislative contests will be closely watched which will have a significant impact on rental housing issues in Washington State.
Over 1,000 candidates filed for more than 400 federal, state, judicial, and a few local offices once the deadline to
file for elective office in Washington state ended at 5 p.m., May 10, 2024.
Washington’s all mail-in ballot primary is set for August 6, 2024, when the list of 1,000 candidates will be cut in half. Ballots are scheduled to be mailed out by July 19. The general election is scheduled for November 6.
In addition to the rematch of the U.S. Presidential race, several other statewide and legislative races will be hotly contested, most notably the race for governor which will be an open seat as 12-year incumbent Jay Inslee is not seeking re-election and pits RHAWA endorsed candidate Democrat state senator Mark Mullett from Issaquah
against a crowded field of 30 filed candidates. In addition to Sen. Mullett, others competitive candidates seeking the office include Republican state party endorsed candidate Semi Bird, a former Richland school board member, former Republican congressperson and King County sheriff Dave Reichert, and Democrat attorney general Bob Ferguson.
In addition to the governor, Washington voters will be deciding on a slew of other statewide offices – Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Commissioner of Public Lands, and Superintendent of Public Instruction. Also, three-term incumbent U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell faces re-election and all nine U.S. congressional seats are up as well, several of which will be hotly contested.
There are also three statewide initia-
tives, a Seattle City Council seat along with two potential tax measures, and a trickle of other local ballot measures and council elections.
Let’s focus on the state senate where several members who have been supporters of rental housing are either retiring or running for another office leaving a total of seven open seats. Six are currently held by Democrats and one Republican. Currently the state senate is made up of 29 Democrats and 20 Republicans. While most pundits predict there will be no major changes in the overall partisan makeup of the Senate after this election cycle, many are closely watching to see if a trend toward electing moderate Democrats will prevail or will the more progressive ultra-left dominate the fall ballot. On the following page you will find a comprehensive breakdown of RHAWA's top priority senate races.
by:
With Senator Majority Leader Andy Billig (D) not running for re-election, this district in Spokane will be a big one to watch. Current District 3 Representative Marcus Riccelli (D) is running for the now vacant senate seat and is willing to work with RHAWA and issues important to our industry.
The favorite to occupy Representatives Riccelli’s seat is former Spokane City Council President Ben Stuckart (D) who has always been an ardent advocate for rental housing providers in Eastern Washington.
Current State Senator Mark Mullet (D) is running for Governor and will vacate his seat. Senator Mullet has been a housing champion for RHAWA in the senate and his strength will be sorely missed. Some names to watch are current District 5 Representative Bill Ramos (D) who understands the priorities of RHAWA. Another name to watch is former District 5 Representative Chad Magendanz (R) who is running for the Senate seat as well and would be a friend to rental housing providers.
Jason Ritchie (D) is a name to watch for running to fill the seat vacated by Representative Ramos. Ritchie is considered to be a friend of small rental housing providers and understands the issues important to our industry.
The current Senator for this district is Ron Muzzall (R) and he is the only Republican state legislator in the 10th. Both State Representatives are Democrats, and
the hope for Dem’s is to flip this district completely to their party. Senator Muzzall’s opponent is Janet St. Claire (D) the current Island County Commissioner. Senator Muzzall was originally appointed in 2019 and then was elected to his position in 2020. This is an extremely important district as this could have a far-reaching impact on the party numbers in the Senate and district numbers going forward. The 10th is seen as a swing district the boundaries were altered along with many other districts in the state over the last few years. The 10th now includes much of Arlington and no longer Pilchuck, McMurray, and Trafton so time will tell if this alters the voter base.
This is an entirely newly drawn district that came out of the controversial re-districting process over the last few years and has been changed from its previous designation of District 15. This redrawing process redistricted out three sitting Republican senators. We will need to see how all the chips fall once the election is held. This has the potential to be a little messy as it will pit some Republican’s against incumbents in their own party if they choose to seek reelection. These senators include District 15 Senator Nikki Torres, the only Latina senator in Washington, Senator Brad Hawkins from District 12 and Senator Curtis King from the former District 14. Several state representatives have also been re-districted out of their former districts.
The current State Senator Ann Rivers (R) has made the decision to not seek re-election so the name to watch here is Greg Cheney (R). Cheney is currently a State Representative for the 18th and is now planning a move over to the senate if elected. This district is important because Representative Cheney would continue to ensure a seat in the senate that would be a no on rent control.
State Senator Kevin Van De Wege (D) is vacating his seat as he is running for Commissioner of Public Lands. He hopes to take over for Hilary Franz (D) who is campaigning for United States Congress. The name to watch here is going to be current 25th District Representative Mike Chapman (D). Representative Chapman was one of the few Democrats to vote no on the rent control bill 2114 on the house floor
breaking with his caucus. His election to the senate would help ensure another NO vote for rent control in the opposite chamber.
Another race to watch here will be the race for the representative seat currently held by Mike Chapman. Some names to watch are Adam Bernbaum (D), who is Senator Van De Wege’s former Legislative Assistant, and Nate Tyler (D) who has the endorsement of the previously discussed Mike Chapman and Hillary Franz.
The 28th was also redrawn in the redistricting process and now no longer includes Tacoma, but instead absorbed more of Lakewood. The candidate to watch here is Maia Espinoza (R) who previously ran for the representative seat in this district in 2018 and will look to unseat incumbent Senator T’wina Nobles (D). Please see my candidate profile on Maia in this issue of Current for more information about her. This district presents a good chance of flipping the senate seat back to the Republican party which previously held this seat for decades.
Also, up for re-election in District 28 are Representatives Mari Leavitt and Dan Bronoske who both voted No on rent control on the house floor along with Representatives Mike Chapman and Amy Walen.
In next month’s CURRENT, we will dive into many of the house races to watch including Jim Henderson (R) for the representative seat in district 26. Jim is a rental housing provider; he is a former lobbyist for RHAWA and understands our issues inside and out. See June’s issue of The CURRENT for a candidate profile on Jim. He would be a fantastic addition to the state House of Representatives and has the full support of the current District 26 represen-
tatives Michelle Caldier (R), who is also seeking reelection, and Spencer Hutchins (R) who is vacating his seat. This district is another swing district as many of the recent elections have been decided by less than one percent. Formal legal advice and review is recommended prior to selection and use of this information. RHAWA does not represent your selection or execution of this information as appropriate for your specific circumstance. The material contained and represented herein, although obtained from reliable sources, is not considered legal advice or to be used as a substitution for legal counsel.
Maia Espinoza is running for state senate in the 28th district which encompasses University Place, Lakewood, Fircrest, Dupont, Steilacoom, Elk Plain, Anderson, Ketron, and McNeil Islands. Maia lives in Lakewood with her husband and four kids. She was born in Biloxi Mississippi, grew up in a military family, and lived all over the country with her four siblings. Her family eventually came to be stationed at Joint Base Lewis McChord where she attended Keithly Middle School in Parkland and Woodbrook Middle School in Tillicum before heading to Lakewood to attend Clover Park High School. Maia graduated early as a Running Start graduate from Pierce College at the age of 17 and went on to earn both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. During her time in high school, she was also a member of the Civil Air Patrol and JROTC.
“So, Lakewood has been the closest thing to a hometown that I’ve ever had. I have lived here basically since middle school,” Espinoza laughed. She did spend some time living in Olympia due to her husband’s job and she says that’s really where her thoughts of working in politics took shape. She held various
jobs in Olympia such as a Session Aid for the Senate Majority Coalition as well as the Legislative Liaison for the Governor's Commission on Hispanic Affairs where she was able to help get several bi-partisan policies passed. She also spent time serving on the Race and Ethnicity Student Data Task Force at OSPI.
“I took a session job at the capital and that’s really what opened my eyes to how policy works and how policy is
crafted and negotiated. That was really exciting and fascinating to me. I have always been kind of a political junkie, but being able to see on the state level the actual real-world impact and immediate kind of effect that policy at the state level has, for me was really inspiring.”
Maia originally ran for office in 2018 for the 28th District Representative seat and in 2020 for Superintendent for Public Instruction. She spoke to how
the district has changed and how she hopes to bring better constituent representation to Olympia.
“Lakewood is probably the biggest part of the 28th District. Little did I know when I first ran in 2018 that it was a swing district and that it changes quite a bit. So, the seat I’m running for now had previously been held by a Republican for fifty years. Even recently to see that top to bottom on my ballot was represented by Democrats and I was like this is not reflective of my neighborhood, my community, our values,” Espinoza said as she explained the shift in the district boundaries to district out West Tacoma and include more of Lakewood. “I think the political tides are shifting and it seems like if there’s a time to be able to win this seat back for my community, it would be now.”
Maia is extremely proud to be the Founder and CEO of the Center for Latino Leadership which is a non-partisan group that’s main goal is to improve civic engagement among Latino communities in Washington. They
We encourage you to consider the vendors found within these listings for your rental business needs. When seeking competitive bids, be sure to mention your RHAWA membership as many offer member discounts. RHAWA does not specifically endorse any business listed herein. References are always recommended. If you would like to submit a customer testimonial for our records, please submit to publications@RHAwa.org. Please note that changes made to a vendor member profile will not be reflected in the CURRENT Vendor Listings unless the change is also sent to publications@RHAwa.org.
CMG Home Loans
Brink & Sadler (253) 582-4700 | brinkandsadler.com
Hutchinson & Walter, PLLC (425) 455-1620 | hutchcpa.com
White Clover Properties (425) 230-6000 | whiteclover.org
Gatewise | Simple Multifamily Smart Access
Kurtis Gilbreth kurtis@gatewise.com (404)985-1247 | www.gatewise.com
Pacific Publishing Co.
(206) 461-1322
Seattle Rental Group | Property Management (206)315-4628 | www.seattlerentalgroup.com
ShowMojo | Leasing Automation
Kristine Young | kristine.young@showmojo.com (312)584-8733 | www.hello.showmojo.com/sales
Fischer Heating and Air (206) 783-1190 | fischerheating.com
Envirotest | Mold, Air Quality
Donald B. Kronenberg (206) 877-3191 seattlemoldandairquality.com
Greenwood True Value Hardware (206) 783-2900 | greenwoodhardware.com
Brink Property Management
Dean Foggitt (425) 458-4848 | brinkpm.com
Carroll, Biddle, & Bilanko, PLLC (206) 818-9962 | bcarroll@cbblegal.com
Christopher T. Benis, Attorney at Law First Avenue Law Group, PLLC
Vendor of the Year 2006 (206) 447-1900 | firstavenuelaw.com
Demco Law Firm, P.S. (206) 203-6000 | demcolaw.com
Dimension Law Group PLLC
Synthia Melton (206) 973-3500 | dimensionlaw.com
Flynn and Associates, PLLC
Sean Flynn (206) 330-0608 | theflynnfirm.com
Glasson Legal (206) 627-0528 | glassonlegal.com
Gourley Law Group / The Exchange Connection (360) 568-5065 | gourleylawgroup.com
Holmquist & Gardiner, PLLC (206) 438-9083 | lawhg.net
Jeffery Bennett (503) 255-8795
Ledger Square Law (253) 327-1701 | ledgersquarelaw.com
LT Services (206) 241-1550 | ltservices.net
Loeffler Law Group, PLLC (206) 443-8678 | loefflerlawgroup.com
Maxwell Glasson (206) 627-0528 | loefflerlawgroup.com
Micheal D Mclaughlin, Attorney at Law (253) 686-9786
Eric Aasness (206) 915-3742 | eaasness@cmghomeloans.com cmghomeloans.com/mysite/eric-aasness
Eastside Funding (425) 873-8873 | eastsidefunding.com
Homebridge Financial (206) 915-3742 | homebridge.com
Luther Burbank Savings Bank
Tiana Jackson (425) 739-0023 | lutherburbanksavings.com
Pacific Crest Savings Bank
Scott Gibson (425) 670-9600 | (800) 335-4126 | paccrest.com
Union Bank Brandon Bemis (206) 715-0877 | unionbank.com BATHTUB + SHOWER RENOVATION
Fischer Restoration (888) 345-2532 | fischerrestore.com
Flippers Warehouse (206) 656-3222 | flipperswarehouse.com
CLEANING + REPAIR
Shine a
Ultrasonic Mini-Blind Cleaning + Repair (425) 771-7799 | shineablind.net
Ideal Inspection Services LLC
|
Construction Expeditors, LLC (206) 595-8852 | (877) 644-1700 constructionexpeditors.com
Fischer Restoration (888) 345-2532 | fischerrestore.com
Flippers Warehouse (206) 656-3222 | flipperswarehouse.com
Maintco (425) 822-5505 | maintcogc.com
Masonry Restoration Consulting (425) 344-3893 masonryrestorationconsulting.com
Next Level Property Maintenance (206) 922-8119 | nxtlevelpm.com
Rife Masonry
Chad Rife (206) 696-6998 | rifemasonry.com
RKC Construction, Inc.
Kyle Caulk (206) 595-3565 | cajames.com
T.E. Kelly Company, LLC
Tim Kelly (206) 240-1950
The Wall Doctor, Inc.
Gary Borracchini (425) 822-8121 | thewalldoctor.com
Top-Rung Construction LLC
Gary Gilmer (253) 893-1101 | fieldsroofservice.com
CARBON MONOXIDE + SMOKE DETECTION
Envirotest | Mold & Air Quality Analysis
Donald B. Kronenberg (206) 877-3191 | seattlemoldandairquality.com
RRIO Certified + Licensed Inspector (206) 930-0264 | idealinspectionservice.com Straight Street Building / Home Inspection John Leon Gonzalez (206) 999-1234 | hi@homeinspect.ws
Dunn Lumber | Doors, Windows + Lumber (206) 632-2129 | (800) 248-3866 dunnlum.com BUILDING REPAIR | REMODEL
+1 Construction (206) 313-6587 | plusoneconstruction.com Bellan Group, LLC Susan Bellan (206) 383-0102 | bellan.com
Greenwood True Value Hardware | Detectors (206) 783-2900 | greenwoodhardware.com CARPET CLEANING
Extreme Steam Carpet Cleaning 24/7 Water Extraction (425) 330-9328 | extremesteamcc.com
Genesee Carpet Cleaning (206) 569-5573 | genesseecarpetcleaning.com
CHIMNEY CLEANING | REPAIR (MASONRY)
The Chimney Specialists, Inc.
Pierce Co.: (253) 475-0399 | (888) 979-3377 Seattle: (206) 782-0151 | (888) 979-3377 So. King Co.: (253) 833-0144 | (888) 979-3377
+
Straight Street Small Business/ Commercial R.E. Inspections
CCPIA Certifified member ID CCPIA-000146 (206)999-1234 | hi@iNspect.ws | www.iNspect.ws
Straight Street Small Business Commercial R.E. Inspections CCPIA Certifified member ID CCPIA-000146 (206)999-1234
hi@iNspect.ws | www.iNspect.ws
Westlake Associates (206) 505-9400 | westlakeassociates.cominfo@westlakeassociates.com
Windermere Real Estate Commercial Therasa Alston | (206) 650-4777
1031 Capital Solutions (800) 445-5908 | 1031capitalsolutions.com
Brooklynn Masonry
Bryan Funk | (253)722-7904
Bryan@brooklynnmasonry.net
RKC Construction, Inc.
Kyle Caulk | (206) 595-3565 | cajames.com
The Kirkland Consulting Group, LLC
Cell Site& Rooftop Leasing Deepak Katara (425) 829-0670 | deepak@tkcgllc.com
Straight Street Small Business/ Home Consultation Services
HUD 203K Consultant ID# S0838 John Leon Gonzalez
Renovate your property with a HUD 203k Consultant (206)999-1234 | hi@iNspect.ws | www.iNspect.ws
Street Building Home Consultation
Diamond Roofers, LLP Flat & Low Slope (206) 202-7770 | diamondroofers.com
ER Flooring (360) 402-9566 | erflooring.com
Masonry Restoration Consulting (425) 344-3893
masonryrestorationconsulting.com
Maintco (425) 822-5505 | maintcogc.com
Pioneer Masonry Restoration Co. (206) 782-4331 pioneermasonry.com
Reinhart Electric & Service (425) 251-5201 reinhartelectric.net
T.E. Kelly Company LLC Tim Kelly (206) 240-1950
Dunn Lumber | Doors, Windows & Lumber (206)
|
Best Plumbing Group (206) 633-1700 | (425) 771-1114
bestplumbing.com
Day & Nite Plumbing & Heating Inc.
Vendor of the Year | 2020 (425) 775-6464 (800) 972-7000 dayandnite.net
Fischer Plumbing, Inc. (206) 783-4129 | fischerplumbing.com Zoom Drain (206) 531-0885 | zoomdrain.com
The Chimney Specialists, Inc. | Dryer Vent Only Seattle: (206) 782-0151 | (888) 979-3377 So. King Co: (253) 833-0144 | (888) 979-3377 Pierce Co: (253) 475-0399 | (888) 979-3377
thechimneyspecialists.com
Dryer Vent Solutions (425) 398-5001 | dryerventcleaning.com
Wall Doctor, Inc. Gary Borracchini (425) 822-8121 | thewalldoctor.com
Energy Benchmarking Services
Michael Jones (206) 245-8737
EnergyBenchmarkingServices.com
SRC Windows (253) 565-2488 | srcwindows.com
Dimension Law Group PLLC
Synthia Melton (206) 973-3500 | dimensionlaw.com
Flynn and Associates, PLLC
Sean Flynn (206) 330-0608 | theflynnfirm.com
Olympic Estate Group, LLC
G.A. “Jeri” Schuhmann (206) 799-0544
OlympicWealthStrategies.com
Carroll, Biddle, & Bilanko, PLLC (206) 818-9962 | bcarroll@cbblegal.com
Demco Law Firm, P.S. (206) 203-6000 | demcolaw.com
Glasson Legal (206) 627-0528 | glassonlegal.com
LT Services, Inc. (206) 241-1550 | ltservices.net
Loeffler Law Group, PLLC (206) 443-8678 | loefflerlawgroup.com
Maxwell Glasson (206) 627-0528 | loefflerlawgroup.com
EXCHANGE — 1031
1031 Capital Solutions (800) 445-5908 | 1031capitalsolutions.com
Gourley Law Group / The Exchange Connection (360) 568-5065 | gourleylawgroup.com
Kay Properties & Investments
Dwight Kay | (855) 899-4597 | kpi1031.com
Sound Realty Group
Charles Burnett, CCIM (206) 931-6036 | soundrealtygroup.com
Velocity 1031 (425) 247-3307 | velocity1031.com
American Family Insurance Cisneros Agency, LLC
Jonathan Cisneros (425) 513-8723 | amfam.com CPK Mortgage, Inc. (831) 682-5647 | cpkmortgage.com
Diamond Cut Insurance Group, Inc.
Larry Janowicz | (425) 879-5198 | dcigi.com
Olympic Estate Group, LLC G.A. “Jeri” Schuhmann (206) 799-0544 | OlympicWealthStrategies.com
Restoration (888)
| fischerrestore.com
Axis Roof and Gutter,
(360) 653-ROOF(7663) | axisroofandgutter.com Seattle
Cleaners LLC (206) 453-3936 |
Abc Turn-Key Services LLC (253) 432-1748 | abcturnkeyservices.com
Next Level Property Maintenance (206) 922-8119 | nxtlevelpm.com
TQ Handyman LLC Trevor Rose (206) 222-5129 | tqhandyman.com Valencias Handyman (509) 346-3694 | Javiervv065@icloud.com
Bio Clean, Inc. (425) 754-9369 biocleanwa.com
American Family Insurance Cisneros Agency, LLC Jonathan Cisneros (425) 513-8723 | amfam.com
Brent Ward State Farm Insurance (425) 488-9100 | (888) 532-1875 brentwardagency.com
Diamond Cut Insurance Group, Inc. Larry Janowicz (425) 879-5198 | larry@dcigi.com
Leavitt Group Northwest Michael Hufschmid (253) 929-4643 | leavitt.com
CBRE - PNW Multifamily | Private Capital Group (206)292-1600 | www.cbre.com
+1 Construction (206) 313-6587 | plusoneconstruction.com
A&A Electric (206) 212-1888 | anaelectric.com
Bellan Group, LLC
Susan Bellan (206) 383-0102 | bellan.com
Bravo Roofing, Inc.
GoldStar Vendor + Vendor of the Year | 2014
John Paust,
(206) 322-9495 | darcoapts.com GoodRoots Companies, Inc (480) 710-6074 | goodroots.io
Dwight Kay (855) 899-4597 | kpi1031.com
Kidder Mathews
Dylan Simon: (206) 414-8575
Jerrid Anderson: (206) 499-8191
DylanSimon.com
Luther Burbank Savings Bank (425) 739-0023
lutherburbanksavings.com
McTaggart Real Estate (206) 322-9495 | darcoapts.com
Paragon Real Estate Advisors, Inc.
Vendor of the Year | 2016 (206) 623-8880 | (800) 643-9871
paragonrea.com
Peak Mortgage Partners
Dave Eden (206) 660-3014 | peakmp.com Ruston Investors, LLC (206) 713-5245 | deluxebargrill@comcast.net Sound Realty Group
Burnett, CCIM (206) 931-6036 | soundrealtygroup.com
Eden (206) 660-3014 |
Locksmith (206) 571-1847 | Lockanddroad.com SnS Locks (206) 664-1209 |
and Commercial
Dunn Lumber (206) 632-2129 | (800) 248-3866 dunnlum.com
Abc Turn-Key Services LLC (253) 432-1748 | abcturnkeyservices.com
Real Property Management Today (253) 426-1730 | rpmtoday.com
White Clover Properties (425) 230-6000 | whiteclover.org
Brooklynn Masonry Bryan Funk | (253)722-7904
Bryan@brooklynnmasonry.net
(206) 909-6873
Rife Masonry Chad Rife: (206) 696-6998 | rifemasonry.com
Masonry Restoration Consulting (425) 344-3893
masonryrestorationconsulting.com
Pioneer Masonry Restoration Co. (206) 782-4331 | pioneermasonry.com
Submeter Solutions, Inc.
(206) 783-4129 | fischerplumbing.com
(425) 829-0670 | deepak@tkcgllc.com
Inc. (831) 682-5647 | cpkmortgage.com
Eastside Funding (425) 873-8873 | eastsidefunding.com
Homebridge Financial (206) 915-3742 | homebridge.com Kidder Matthews Simon and Anderson Team (206) 747-4725 dylansimon.com
Burbank Savings Bank Tiana Jackson | (425) 739-0023
lutherburbanksavings.com
Pacific Crest Savings Bank
Todd M. Hull | Scott Gibson (425) 670-9624 | (800) 335-4126 pacificcrestbank.com
365 Plumbing (253)478-9298 | info@365restorationwa.com http://www.365plumbingseattle.com
Best Plumbing Group (206) 633-1700 | (425) 771-1114 bestplumbing.com
Danika Plumbing LLC
Frank Gaborik frank.g@danikaplumbing.com (425) 335-3515 danikaplumbing.com
Day & Nite Plumbing & Heating Inc.
Vendor of the Year | 2020 (425) 775-6464 | (800) 972-7000 dayandnite.net
Fischer Plumbing, Inc. (206) 783-4129 | fischerplumbing.com
PRINTING
Pacific Publishing Co. (206) 461-1322 | pacificpublishingcompany.com
Allen Property Management
Mike Larson (253) 582-6111 | (800) 995-6111 haroldallen.com
Bell-Anderson & Assoc., LLC, AMO (253)852-8195 | bell-anderson.net
Brink Property Management
Dean Foggitt | (425) 458-4848 | brinkpm.com
Capstone Commercial Real Estate Advisors
John Downing (206) 324-9427 | capstonerea.com
Cornell & Associates Inc (206)329-0085 | cornellandassociates.com
Crown Properties Inc (253) 537-2704 | crown-rentals.com
Dave Poletti & Associates (206) 286-1100 | davepoletti.com
Dobler Management Company Inc. (253) 475-2405 | doblermanagement.com
Elita Living Real Estate LLC
Erica Vincent | (206) 323-0771 | elitaliving.com
Emerald Door Property Management (206) 992-7334 | emeralddoor.com
Cameron Towe | (425) 228-6831 sales@submetersolutions.com submetersolutions.com
Envirotest
Mold, Air Quality Analysis, Inspections
Donald B. Kronenberg (206) 877-3191 | seattlemoldandairquality.com
Hainsworth Laundry
Jason Hainsworth (509) 534-8942 | hainsworth.biz
Extreme Steam Carpet Cleaning (425) 330-9328 | extremesteamcc.com
Straight Street Building/Home WDIR Reports SPI/WDOs, Mold, Asbestos, Lead testing (206)999-1234 | hi@iNspect.ws | www.iNspect.ws
Best Plumbing Group (206) 633-1700 | (425) 771-1114
Fischer Plumbing, Inc. (206) 783-4129 | fischerplumbing.com
Foundation Group, LLC (206) 324-7622 | foundationgroupre.com
Icon Real Estate Services Inc.
Jeremiah Roberson (425) 633-3330 | www.iconre.org
Jean Vel Dyke Properties, LLC (206) 725-3103 | veldyke.com
Jevons Property Management
Enrique Jevons (206) 880-7935 | jevonsproperties.com
Krishna Realty (425) 209-0055 | krishna-realty.com
Longley Property Management Inc.
Venita Longley | (206) 937-3522 | longleypm.com
Madrona Real Estate Services, LLC
Bradford Augustine (206) 538-2950 | MadronaRealEstate.com
Maple Leaf Management LLC
Michelle Bannister (206) 850-8095 | mapleleafmgt.com
Marathon Properties
Jeff O’Hare (425) 745-9107 | marathonpropmgmt.com
Marcoe Management LLC
Brittani Marcoe | (253) 650-0475 Office@MarcoeManagement.com
Nathaly Burnett Property Management (253) 732-9535 | beyondseattle.com
Next Brick Property Management (425) 372-7582
Northfield Properties Inc. (425) 304-1250 | (425) 304-1250
North Pacific Property Management Joshua Fant | (206) 781-0186 | (800) 332-1032
northpacificpropertymanagement.com
Pacific Crest Real Estate (206) 812-9155 | pacificcrestre.com
Park 52 Property Management Paul Jakeman | (253) 473-5200 | park52.com
People’s Real Estate, Inc. Lisa Brannon | (425) 442-9941 | peoplespm.com
Pilot Ventures LLC | Property Management (206) 566-6600 | pilotnw.com
Prime Metropolis Properties, Inc (425) 688-3003 | pmp1988.com
Prospector Property Management (206) 508-6366 prospectorpropertymanagement.com
Real Estate Gladiators (425)260-3121 | www.realestategladiators.com
Real Estate Investment Services (REIS) Lakewood: (253) 207-5871 Seattle: (206) 319-5981 | REISinvest.com
Real Property Management Today (253) 426-1730 | rpmtoday.com
Rentals Northwest Richard Wilber | (253) 581-8616
Renters Marketplace Larry Cutting (425) 277-1500 | rentersmarketplace.com
Ruston Investors, LLC (206) 713-5245 | deluxebargrill@comcast.net
Seattle's Property Management (206) 856-6000 seattlespropertymanagement.com
Seattle Rental Group (206)315-4628 www.seattlerentalgroup.com
SJA Property Management (425) 658-1920 | sjapropertymanagement.com
Spartan Agency, LLC (253) 863-6122 | spartanagency.com
SUHRCO Residential Properties (425) 455-0900 | (206) 243-5507 | suhrco.com
The Paris Group NW (206) 466-4937 | theparisgroupnw.com
TQ Handyman LLC Trevor Rose: (206) 222-5129 trevor@tqhandyman.com
Viaclarity Inc (206) 853-1568 | divalerie1259@outlook.com
Weber & Associates Property Management (425) 745-5838
Westlake Associates (206) 505-9400 | info@westlakeassociates.com westlakeassociates.com
White Clover Properties (425) 230-6000 | whiteclover.org
Windermere Property Management / Lori Gill & Associates (425) 455-5515 | wpmnorthwest.com
Windermere Property Management / JMW Group (206) 621-2037 | windermere-pm.com
Windermere Property Management / WPM South, LLC
Ed Verdi | (253) 638-9811 | wpmsouth.com
WPI Real Estate Services, Inc. (206) 522-8172 | wpirealestate.com PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE
Azibo | Financial Services Platform (855) 920-3565 | www.azibo.com
Gatewise | Simple Multifamily Smart Access
Kurtis Gilbreth | kurtis@gatewise.com (404)985-1247 | www.gatewise.com
Allied Property Experts (206) 717-5777 | apex-re.com
Capstone Commercial Real Estate Advisors
John Downing (206) 324-9427 | capstonerea.com
Cornell & Associates Inc (206)329-0085 www.cornellandassociates.com
Dave Poletti & Associates (206) 286-1100 | davepoletti.com
DVF Legacy Investments (206) 650-6113 | pugetsoundinvesting.com
Darco Inc (206) 322-9495 darcoapts.com
Elita Living Real Estate LLC
Erica Vincent (206) 323-0771 | elitaliving.com
Foundation Group, LLC (206) 324-7622 | foundationgroupre.com
GoodRoots Companies, Inc (480) 710-6074 | goodroots.io
Jean Vel Dyke Properties, LLC (206) 725-3103 | veldyke.com
Kay Properties & Investments
Dwight Kay (855) 899-4597 | kpi1031.com
Kidder Mathews
Dylan Simon: (206) 414-8575 Jerrid Anderson: (206) 499-8191 DylanSimon.com
Krishna Realty (425) 209-0055 | krishna-realty.com
Lee & Associates | Multifamily Team
Candice Chevaillier (206) 284-1000 | lee-nw.com
Madrona Real Estate
Bradford Augustine (206) 538-2950 | MadronaRealEstate.com
McTaggart Real Estate (206) 322-9495 darcoapts.com
Next Brick Property Management (425) 372-7582
North Pacific Property Management (206) 781-0186 | (800) 332-1032 northpacificpropertymanagement.com
Paragon Real Estate Advisors, Inc.
Vendor of the Year | 2016 (206) 623-8880 | (800) 643-9871 paragonrea.com
Park 52 Property Management
Paul Jakeman (253) 473-5200 | park52.com
People’s Real Estate, Inc. (425) 442-9941 | peoplespm.com
Prime Metropolis Properties, Inc (425) 688-3003 | pmp1988.com
Real Estate Gladiators (425)260-3121 | www.realestategladiators.com
Real Estate Investment Services (REIS) Lakewood: (253) 207-5871
Seattle: (206) 319-5981 | REISinvest.com
SJA Property Management (425) 658-1920 | sjapropertymanagement.com
Sound Reatly Group
Charles Burnett, CCIM (206) 931-6036 | soundmultifamily.com
SUHRCO Residential Properties (425) 455-0900 | (206) 243-5507 | suhrco.com
The Paris Group NW (206) 466-4937 | thepaccarisgroupnw.com
Westlake Associates (206) 505-9400 | info@westlakeassociates.com westlakeassociates.com
Windermere Property Management / Lori Gill & Associates (425) 455-5515 | wpmnorthwest.com
Windermere Real Estate Commercial Therasa Alston | (206) 650-4777
WPI Real Estate Services, Inc. (206) 522-8172 x105 | wpirealestate.com
Ideal Inspection Services LLC RRIO Certified + Licensed Inspector (206) 930-0264 | idealinspectionservice.com
| (360) 886-2193 john@bravoroofs.com | bravoroofs.com
Diamond Roofers, LLP | Flat & Low Slope (206) 202-7770 | diamondroofers.com
Fields Roof Service Inc. (253) 852-4974 | (888) 852-4974 fieldsroofservice.com
Mono Rooftop Solutions
Commercial / Residential Repair & Maintenance (206) 767-2025 | monorooftop.com
Signal 88 Security of South Puget Sound (206)208-0233 | signal88.com
SnS Locks (206) 664-1209 | safeandsecurelocks@gmail.com
SEWER & DRAIN VIDEO INSPECTIONS
Best Plumbing Group (206) 633-1700 | (425) 771-1114 bestplumbing.com
Fischer Plumbing, Inc. (206) 783-4129 fischerplumbing.com
SIDE SEWER REPAIR
Best Plumbing Group (206) 633-1700 | (425) 771-1114 bestplumbing.com
Fischer Plumbing, Inc. (206) 783-4129 fischerplumbing.com
SOFTWARE FOR RENTAL OWNERS
Azibo | Financial Services Platform (855) 920-3565 | www.azibo.com
ShowMojo | Leasing Automation Kristine Young | kristine.young@showmojo.com (312)584-8733 | hello.showmojo.com/sales
SUBMETERING
Submeter Solutions, Inc. Cameron Towe | (425) 228-6831 sales@submetersolutions.com submetersolutions.com
Brink & Sadler
Johann Drewett (253) 582-4700 | brinkandsadler.com
Hutchinson & Walter, PLLC (425) 455-1620 | hutchcpa.com
Guardian Water & Power Chris Apostolos | guardianwp.com (206) 271-6913 | (877) 291-3141 x139
TRAUMA SCENE
99Gem (206)
Bruce Davis, Sr. | Day & Nite Plumbing & Heating, Inc. | 2020 Vendor Member
If you’re a longtime CURRENT subscriber you’ve seen this article before. We hope following our suggestions helps to fortify your piece of mind while you’re enjoying your leisurely summer getaway.
As summer approaches, a few folks have asked for the Vacation Checklist that we put on our website from time to time. It’s been updated since D.I.Y. Security Systems with Cameras have becomes very affordable and common. Now, there are systems widely available that monitor our homes and businesses with Alarm Sensors and Cameras for both inside and outside, that we can be connected to and can check on through our phones from anywhere in the world that has Internet access.
Single Doorbell Systems are less than $100, and Basic Indoor Systems with 4 Cameras and storage (On-site or Cloud). range in price from $200 to $300. For medium-sized systems covering indoors and outdoors using wireless and infrared enabled cameras with H.D. for nights you’ll have to dig a little deeper into your pocket. And of course larger, more powerful Systems are available if pricing is of little issue. Many wireless Cameras on all these Systems have a substantial range (up to 500 ft) so that yards and out-buildings can even be included. Even if we have our home or properties ‘house-sit’ by someone when we vacation, it’s very comforting to be able to lounge around by a pool in the tropics and pick up your phone to see who is knocking on your back door.
Anyway, many of us have checklists we use when we leave on vacation, and here’s the list I use when we go on vacation, based on common sense and many years of seeing some pretty bad damages when our clients have left homes and business un-attended…
1. Give family and/or a trusted friend or neighbor…
• A key. Don’t hide a key; they can always be found
• Their personal ‘Code’ for the Alarm System; (not the Master Code)
• Our Itinerary.
2. Stop…
• The mail.
• Paper.
3. Make sure Pets…
• Have enough food and water if left alone.
• Have documented Care Details current and copied to sitter/boarder etc.
• If appropriate, their Vet is notified who your Pet Sitter is and can speak for you/contact you.
4. Make sure the house…
• Looks normal from the outside…
• Shades drawn?
• Car in the driveway, or not.
• Lawn maintained etc. Mowing? Watering?
5. Turn off / disconnect
• The ringer on any Landline phone.
• Message centers should have volume all the way down.
• Power to any small appliance; iron, toaster etc.
• Stove, Oven, Gas bar-b-que
• All Wireless Computer equipment, Printers, etc.
o If Wi-Fi is needed/used on your Security System and/or Cameras, be sure it retains power and is set up and password protected carefully and thoroughly.
• Power to Water Heater (circuit breaker or gas shut-off).
• Water supplies to…
o The Washing Machine. (Even the ‘braided Stainless Steel’ hoses pop apart sometimes.)
Continued from page 20
were a big community voice during the recent redistricting in the Yakima area where the lines have now been redrawn to redistrict the only Latina senator, Nikki Torres, out of her own district. She also contracts with the Washington Policy Center, another non-partisan policy group, and she runs her own marketing and consulting business with her husband.
In the free time Maia finds between running for office, her work, and raising her family, she enjoys cooking and singing.
“I will spend hours cooking and that’s part of the creative so me for me that’s fun,” Maia said as she told me about making a huge portion of Peruvian food for her volunteer doorbeller’s one Saturday afternoon. She also enjoys concerts and gardening though she does acknowledge she doesn’t have the biggest green thumb when it comes to keeping all her plants thriving. She also likes to sing and enjoys opera and any concert she is able to attend.
Our conversation also covered the current rental housing industry, and I asked Espinoza about her thoughts on the current state of the rental housing market in Washington and she spoke to her personal experience.
“Being able to save up and buy a house was like a moving target. When we finally embraced renting, we left the apartment complex and went into renting, you know an individual person’s property. Their one rental property and that was such a good experience. We have always had good relationships with our landlords.”
Maia informed me that she and her husband were actually able to purchase their rental home from their landlord a few years ago and she understands the current policies and cost issues facing small housing providers. “I like to think that I can personally narrate and navigate why, cause and effect for some of this stuff, the positive obviously side of the landlord rather than the evil landlord narrative and I think that’s missing. I think there’s not enough people in our legislature that have that perspective and can speak from that experience.”
If you would like to donate to Maia Espinoza’s Senate Campaign for the 28th District head to maiaespinoza.com to show your support. Don’t forget to vote in our state’s primary election on August 6th to help determine which candidates will be featured on the November 5th ballot.
Continued from page 25
o The Water heater. (Usually, the valve on the right-side pipe, right above it.)
o Ice Maker. (It should have its own shut-off; hopefully under the Kitchen Sink, but if not it should be behind the refrigerator; you’ll have to pull it out. Yes, it’s worth it.)
o Dishwasher. (It should have its own shutoff under the sink.)
o To the Whole House if you have cheap plastic shut-offs to fixtures (sinks, toilets), plastic risers, or corrugated flexible risers to fixtures.
6. Double-Check
• Wi-Fi, as mentioned above for Security System.
• All interior doors are as you want, (think of fire and alarm system issues).
• All exterior doors and windows are locked.
• All drapes and blinds are as you want.
• Automatic Garage Door is unplugged. (Remotes are easily defeated by crooks).
• Automatic Timers on lights are programmed; one Control per floor level minimum.
• All Digital/Computer Equipment is as you want.
• Temperature on Heating/Cooling System. Do NOT turn it off; adjust for median temp. If you turn it off, humid muggy air will promote mold in the summer, and too cold in the winter will allow pipes to freeze on the outer walls of the house.
• Refrigerator: remove food that will spoil
• Large Freezer - that it’s plugged in and closed safe and sound. If it locks, lock it. If it doesn’t a short strip of duct tape across the door seal by the handle is a quick, visual indicator that it’s shut tight.
• All garbage is emptied and taken out.
• Valuables, Firearms, etc.; that they are locked away in a safe.
7. Then, lock the door on the way out, forget everything, and HAVE FUN!!!
Bruce Davis, Sr. is a Licensed Journeyman Plumber, Licensed Electrician, HVAC/R Electrical Administrator, HVAC/R ,and Certified WA State C.E.U. Instructor. Day and Nite Plumbing and Heating, Inc has been in Lynnwood serving Snohomish and N. King County for over 68-years, and Bruce Sr. has been President and working at this family-owned business for 36-years. Bruce can be contacted at: Email: Bruce@dayandnite.net.Day and Nite Plumbing and Heating Inc. 16614 13 Ave. W., Lynnwood, WA 9803, (800) 972-7000.
In the third installment of our series, "The Heart of Housing," we examine the inexorable link between timely evictions, tenant safety, and operational sustainability for housing providers. This critical issue affects both for-profit and non-profit housing providers and the tenants they serve. Legislators and government officials have created a Gordian knot of rules and regulations that hurt the very people they were meant to protect, inhibit the construction of needed affordable and market-rate units, and create unsafe environments. To help our industry, communities, and tenants, we need a drastic overhaul of this regulatory burden—a fact so clear that diverse stakeholders from both sides of the Cascades are asking for the same thing. Without further ado, here is "The Heart of Housing
Part 3: A Safe Place to Call Home."
The inability to evict tenants or unauthorized occupants in a timely manner has significant and multifaceted impacts on rental housing providers, affecting financial stability, property maintenance, and the overall safety and well-being of residents. Both private market rental housing providers and nonprofit low-income housing providers have a duty and desire to provide safe and stable housing for their tenants. However, achieving this goal requires reforms in eviction laws and tenant safety measures.
One of the most immediate impacts
Legislators & government officials have created a GORDIAN KNOT of rules and regulations that hurt the very people they were meant to protect... “ “
of delayed evictions is financial strain. When tenants fail to pay rent, housing providers experience a significant loss of income, which is crucial for maintaining and developing housing units. For example, in Seattle, the total rent debt among tenants is estimated at $170 million, predominantly from low-income households. Nationally, this figure reaches almost $10 billion. Both for-profit and nonprofit housing providers are hard hit, as they rely heavily on rent to cover operating costs, including maintenance, insurance, security, staffing, and overhead.
The Low Income Housing Institute, a major provider of affordable housing, reported a nearly sixfold increase in tenants with more than $500 in overdue rent over four years. Sharon Lee, Executive Director of the Low Income
Housing Institute, emphasized the severity of the situation, stating, “Excessive rent loss will decimate Seattle’s community of nonprofit housing providers. We will not have the financial resources to maintain the housing, make mortgage payments, or meet the obligations of our lenders.”
Even before the pandemic, low-income housing providers had been sounding the alarm on rising costs for insurance, security, staffing, and overhead. The pandemic further squeezed providers, requiring additional maintenance and installations such as air purifiers and windows.
The rising costs of deferred maintenance and pandemic-related expenses
Continued on page 34
Our new collaboration with Azibo (RHAwa.org/Azibo-info) transforms leasing into a digital, integrated experience for RHAWA members. Property owners can now create digitized leases with RHAWA legal forms, all within a single, convenient platform that has much more to offer.
Azibo is an online application that offers a broad range of features to enhance your rental property management experience:
• Online rent collection
Azibo provides a convenient and hassle-free method for collecting rent payments online. It is completely free for property owners, and renters can pay through bank transfer, cash or CashApp at no additional cost. Additionally, renters have the option to pay by debit or credit card, subject to a 2.99% convenience fee. Payments are processed in as fast as 2 business days and are directly deposited into your bank account.
• Rental applications and tenant screening
Azibo streamlines the rental application process and includes tenant screening capabilities to help you choose reliable tenants for your properties.
• RHAWA Forms and Lease generation, e-sign and document storage
Use RHAWA forms to create legally binding lease agreements, enable electronic signatures, and store these documents securely within the platform. In addition to the leasing documents, all other RHAWA forms are available for download from a very easy-to-use filter and search tool.
• Free online banking and bill pay
Azibo offers convenient online banking features, allowing you to manage your finances and easily pay bills related to your rental properties.
• Accounting and reporting tools
Simplify your financial management with Azibo's accounting and reporting
tools designed from the ground up for real estate, helping you track income, expenses, and generate insightful reports.
• Better tenant experience
Azibo focuses on providing a seamless and positive experience for your tenants, improving communication and fostering satisfaction.
• Renters Insurance
Azibo offers residential renters insurance options to protect both landlords and tenants, providing peace of mind.
• Maintenance requests and communications
Streamline the maintenance process by enabling renters to submit maintenance requests directly through the platform. Also manage communication with renters here for a smoother experience.
The Azibo pricing model is designed with the small rental owner in mind. Rather than expensive monthly subscription fees, there are charges per service like lease signing and screening. For RHAWA members (and associations in other states) these charges are heavily discounted. RHAWA members will pay just $9.99 for e-sign per lease signing package and your prospective tenants will pay $39.99 for the screening package. Ready to give it a try?
1. Make sure you are logged in to rhawa.org.
2. Go to Screening + Forms/Azibo Login.
3. Click “Create my free Azibo account.”
4. If the phone number transferred from your member profile is a landline, change it to your mobile number to enable verification by text.
5. Create a password.
6. Click “Get started for free.”
Azibo provides a specific set of FAQs for RHAWA members using the services to help answer the most common questions.
If you require further assistance, Azibo’s New Customer Specialists are available to walk you through the platform or answer any questions you may have. They can be reached via email at onboarding@azibo.com or by calling (855) 920-3565.
The Rental Housing Association of Washington (RHAWA) is gearing up for its largest event yet - ENGAGE 2024. Scheduled for October 8, 2024 gious Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue, this full-day tradeshow and annual busi ness meeting promise to be a game-changer for rental housing professionals.
ENGAGE 24 in a journey of knowledge and connections at the RHAWA Fall Expo + Annual Business Meeting. Join us for a day of educational workshops, a bustling tradeshow, and exceptional networking opportunities. It’s the perfect season to gather insights, discover new products, and build valuable connections. Join us and let the Season of Change Inspire Your Growth!
With a robust lineup of activities, ENGAGE 2024 offers a platform for industry stakeholders to delve into best practices for rental operations, gain invaluable in vestor education, and strategize on effective advocacy techniques. The event boasts nine breakout rooms, a spacious exhibitor hall, and a grand theater, providing am ple opportunities for networking and knowledge exchange.
ENGAGE 24 in a journey of knowledge and connections at the RHAWA Fall Expo + Annual Business Meeting. Join us for a day of educational workshops, a bustling tradeshow, and exceptional networking opportunities. It’s the perfect season to gather insights, discover new products, and build valuable connections. Join us and let the Season of Change Inspire Your Growth!
Date: Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Date: Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Location: Meydenbauer Center
Location: Meydenbauer Center
Address: 11100 NE 6th Street Bellevue, WA 98004
Address: 11100 NE 6th Street Bellevue, WA 98004
What sets ENGAGE 2024 apart is its inclusivity. While historically catering to RHAWA members, this event marks a significant shift as non-member profession als from across the industry are welcome. This expansion promises a richer, more diverse pool of perspectives and expertise.
Complimentary Event Tickets – Lunch + Happy Hour with 2 Drink Tickets Included
Complimentary Event Tickets – Lunch + Happy Hour with 2 Drink Tickets Included
Hyperlinked Company Acknowledgment on Event Web page
Hyperlinked Company Acknowledgment on Event Web page
Recognition in Current Newspaper
Recognition in Current Newspaper
Exhibitor Booth
Exhibitor Booth
Sponsor Ribbons
Sponsor Ribbons
Hyperlinked Company Acknowledgment on Weekly Event Promotional Emails
Hyperlinked Company Acknowledgment on Weekly Event Promotional Emails
Social Media Recognition
Social Media Recognition
Tabletop Displays at Event
Tabletop Displays at Event Event Program Advertisement
Event Program Advertisement
30 Second Podcast Promotion
Podium Time to Address Attendees during Keynote
2024 offers unparalleled exposure and engagement opportunities. From exhibitor booths to podium time, sponsors can showcase their offerings and connect directly with attendees. Additionally, sponsors can receive a coveted vendor profile in RHAWA's CURRENT Newspaper, reaching a
With an anticipated attendance of 175 RHAWA members, this event serves as a prime opportunity for sponsors to maximize valuable face-to-face time with decision-makers. The program concludes with a volunteer recognition happy hour,
For sponsors seeking to elevate their brand and engage with the rental housing 2024 is the premier opportunity. Join us as we shape the
If you have any questions, please contact Luke Brown at:
further exacerbate the financial challenges, threatening the viability of both nonprofit and for-profit housing providers and their mission to support low-income and homeless populations.
Washington State's right-to-counsel law, which guarantees tenants facing eviction the right to an attorney if their income falls below 200% of the federal poverty line, has significantly altered the eviction process. This law, effective since 2021, was the first statewide measure in the country to guarantee this right. The King County Bar Association’s Housing Justice Project reported that the involvement of tenant attorneys has prevented final eviction orders in a majority of cases, but it also means that eviction proceedings are more drawn out, increasing legal costs for landlords.
This law has made evictions too difficult and time-consuming, with cases often being postponed to allow tenants to secure legal representation. Eric Steven, an attorney representing many landlords in Spokane, including those who provide federally subsidized housing, noted, “The tenants’ attorneys often seek to drag cases out rather than reach an accommodation with the landlord to resolve the matter more quickly or to find services for the tenant.”
This delay is particularly problematic when dealing with tenants who are committing crimes or posing a danger to others, as it hinders the ability to promptly address these issues and protect other residents. Rob McCann, President and CEO of Catholic Charities Eastern Washington, highlighted the impact on their operations, stating, “The changes in the eviction process—and specifically the longer time frame for evicting a tenant who is committing crimes or creating a danger to themselves or others—has been driving up our legal costs significantly and made it hard to protect the majority of tenants when a bad one presents an ongoing danger.”
The case of Brady v. Whitewater Creek, Inc. highlights the legal uncertainties
and potential liabilities that landlords face even when they are unable to evict a tenant or unauthorized occupant. In this case, the court held that the property management company had a duty to protect a tenant from foreseeable criminal conduct by a third party, even though the company argued it had no special relationship with the attacker.
Brady v. Whitewater Creek, Inc.: In this case, the Washington Court of Appeals determined that landlords have a duty to protect their tenants from foreseeable criminal conduct by third parties. The case involved Aleta Brady, a tenant who was raped in her apartment after a man scaled the building and entered her unlocked balcony door.
The court found that Whitewater Creek, the property management company, had been previously alerted to a similar incident where a person was seen attempting to climb into a second-floor balcony. This prior incident was deemed sufficient to make the risk foreseeable. The court held that because Whitewater had knowledge of the potential risk, it had a duty to warn tenants about the possibility of someone accessing upper-floor balconies and to take reasonable steps to prevent such intrusions. The court concluded that Whitewater's failure to warn tenants and provide adequate protection could be seen as a breach of duty, leading to potential liability for the tenant's injuries. The court reversed the summary judgment that had been in favor of Whitewater, allowing the case to proceed to trial.
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We are very proud to be a family owned and operated company. John, Barry and Jill have been serving RHA Members for over 22 years. Our focus is to solve customers’ roof problems and concerns with a reliable, high-quality roof system. Our dedicated crews take pride in their craftsmanship and treat our customers roofs as if it were our own.
Polyflex G (torch down) provides an exceptionally durable roofing product and provides long-term weathering performance. With a granulated surface, Polyflex G exceeds all minimum ASTM standards for tensile strength, puncture resistance and flexibility. This torch down roof membrane is ideal for Northwest roofs; where common branches sometimes fall or residents want a roof-top patio. We stand behind Ployglass APP Membranes with the most reliable warranties in the industry. Their warranty provides extended protection, assuring the optimum system performance is guaranteed.
About Elizabeth Gregory Home (EGH)
EGH inspires homeless women to transform their lives. Through services offered, women can meet immediate needs, as well as long-range goals to break the cycle of homelessness.
Learn more about EGH and how you can help at eghseattle.org. Thank you. Special pricing for RHAWA members AND $100 donation toward EGH with paid re-roof contract!
Contact John Paust for more information:
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