As a real estate investor, you know that ROI and protecting your investment are essential to your success. Whether you own hotels, residential, or commercial properties, you can count on Construction Expeditors for straight talk and solid recommendations for upgrades, maintenance, and repairs that help keep your property competitive and profitable for the long term.
Corey Hjalseth | External Affairs Manager | chjalseth@RHAwa.org | (206) 905-0603
Over the course of the last few months, I had the opportunity to sit down with a number of RHAWA members from all over the Puget Sound area at various member LINK meetings. I was able to discuss and to hear how many of the most recent rental policy and eviction issues are
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
Office Manager & Event Coordinator
Chloe Moser: cmoser@RHAwa.org
Policy + Communications
Tim Hatley: (206) 905-0601
Seattle Office (206) 283-0816
Eastern WA Office (509) 535-1018
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playing out in real time. We discussed everything from eviction moratorium issues to screening criteria to increased difficulty of operating their business and Just Cause. Many of these interview videos will be released at a later date, but I wanted to share some of what our members had to say.
“Then it means that we have to be extremely careful about who we’re gonna rent to. Even if that means we’re going to have a prolonged vacancy. Whereas before we’re able to get somebody in right away very quickly, now we might go two, three months vacant looking for somebody who’s gonna fit the criteria to make sure that we don’t run into any difficulties later on,” said Enrique Jevons of Jevon’s Property Management when speaking to the topic of Just Cause. “We’re definitely not gonna give second chances to people like we used to before because we just can’t run that risk.”
I talked with Waithera Mbure who owns a duplex, about the difficulty of performing background checks and making sure, as a housing provider, you know who is living on your property.
“They say we cannot ask for social security or certain questions we cannot ask. This is our home, this our property that we are bringing people into. I need to know who is coming. I need to know what your background is and if you don’t pay, how do I come after you
to recoup some of this money.”
I also spoke with Collins Zhao about eviction issues with a few South Sound properties that his company manages.
“In the last year we never reached the step where we got to court, but we do have some tenants who didn’t pay the rent. Our landlords, they listened to their lawyer, and they choose to settle with the tenants because they don’t want to wait for eight months or ten months. They have to take a loss.”
To say that providing housing to your community is becoming increasingly difficult is a vast understatement. Many of the RHAWA members I spoke with for this article, not all of which are written here, expressed the same sentiment. Uncertainty for the future of the small housing provider. Will they be able to continue far into the future and pass the mantle to other family or friends? I didn’t get any solid absolute yes answers. Thank you to all the members who took the time to speak with me and let other housing providers know, we’re navigating this together.
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RHAWA Current is published every month by the Rental Housing Association of Washington. Copyright ©2023 RHAWA Current with all rights reserved. Reproduction or use without permission of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited. All copyrights, trademarks, and servicemarks are property of their respective owners. P.O. Box 31103 Seattle, Washington, 98103.
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Denise Myers | Education + Resources Director
RHAWA provides several different resources on local laws from a few different perspectives. Some start with a certain type of law and illustrate how they vary from city to city. Others start with a city, and list all the unique rental regulations they have adopted. We work hard to keep these resources up to date as cities propose or adopt new laws or revise existing codes, and we often rely on our members to inform us of new developments in their cities. Take a moment now to browse our Support Center to get up to speed on local laws. Please note, when state and local laws conflict, it is generally advisable to follow the law that is most favorable to the tenant.
First, the WA State and Local Law Chart covers several different types of laws such as registration and inspection, use of social security numbers, special tenant’s rights information required, amount of move-in fees and installment periods, rent increase notice periods, the regulation of late fees, and how tenancies can be ended by the landlord. This chart is useful if you manage properties in several areas and need a quick reference to see how much notice is needed for that rent increase in Issaquah, or if there is a cap on move-in fees in Burien. A link to the actual legal code is included for each city so you can check details as needed.
Another chart focuses in on one very complex area of the law usually referred to as “just cause eviction” or “good cause to end the tenancy.” Since the State law version and pre-existing Seattle, Auburn, Burien, and Federal Way versions were not difficult enough… King County, Kenmore, and SeaTac had to jump on the bandwagon and create their own version of “just causes” to terminate tenancies. Our article Good Cause to End Tenancy (Statewide Guide), and the form End of Tenancy Notice will help you make sense of how much notice to provide based on the circumstances and where the property is located.
WHEN STATE AND LOCAL LAWS CONFLICT, IT IS GENERALLY ADVISABLE TO FOLLOW THE LAW THAT IS MOST FAVORABLE TO THE TENANT.
Seventeen different local governments have relevant rental regulations that go beyond registration and inspection. Eleven more have registration (some with inspection) but no other tenant protections. Most of the remaining cities now require having business licenses for each rental property. This article lists each of the cities, and so far, just one county (King) that have rental regulations. This article provides links to the actual municipal codes and any related law summary articles that we offer.
For most of the seventeen (and counting) local governments that have adopted rental regulations (beyond registration/inspection), we have provided easy-to-read law summaries in the Support Center.
1. Auburn 2. Bellingham
3. Burien
4. Federal Way
5. Issaquah
6. Kenmore
7. King County (Summary in progress)
8. Kirkland
9. Olympia
10. Port Townsend
11. Redmond
12. SeaTac
13. Seattle (Summary in progress)
14. Shoreline
15. Spokane
16. Tacoma
17. Tumwater
Note: While Vancouver, WA does have rental regulation codes, all regulations are now the same as or are superseded by state law.
Legal Forms
Legal Forms found at RHAwa.org/rental-forms-leases-notices include a few items designed to help you deal with all the local laws. First and foremost is
the Leasing Requirements by Local Jurisdiction document. For each clause in the lease, it will list any special requirements by city or county. For instance, under clause 2, where you specify your late rent fee, there are several areas that limit the fee to either a percentage or in some cases only $10. These limitations are detailed by city or county. Make sure to follow this document closely when filling in your lease for any of the 17 areas listed above.
You will also find some notices that include different options based on the city or county, like the End of Tenancy Notice. This form provides a mechanism where you can copy and paste the appropriate “cause” for ending tenancy based on state and city laws. Other notice forms like Pay or Vacate, Comply or Vacate, or Notice to Quit, have different versions for various local governments that require specific disclosures on their notice forms. Make sure you select the correct version of these forms based on the location of your rental property.
While these laws create a complicated web of confusion, we hope that the tools we provide make it possible for our members to be in compliance when operating rental properties. But if this isn’t enough and you’re still confused, check out our free ONDEMAND education. We have several attorney-led classes that dive into various local laws. See the Education article on page 8 for more details.
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.
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: Wednesday, September 4 | 2-3:30pm
Cost: $30 Members | $200 Freemium Subscribers
With over 35 years practicing landlord-tenant law, and over 45 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.
When: Friday, September 6 | 12-2pm
Where: Spokane Valley Library, Diane E. Azhand Meeting Room East
Cost: Free for Members
Learn how to navigate the RHAWA website and effectively use all the available tools to help operate your rental business. Understand your membership benefits and how to access legal forms, screening, support center, ONDEMAND education and more.
Casual member meetings with topical discussions. No fee, simply order and pay for food at restaurant venues. This month’s topic is Winterization!
• Claim Jumper, Tukwila | Tuesday, September 10, 6:30-8pm
• Darcy’s, Spokane Valley | Monday, September 16, 12-1:30pm
• Dave & Buster's Bellevue | Thursday, September 17, 6-8pm
• Ben Dews Clubhouse Grill, Tacoma | Thursday, September 19, 6-7:30pm
• Bob’s Burgers, Everett | Thursday, September 19, 6:30-8pm
*Meeting time and subject may change. Please check the calendar at RHAwa.org/events.
When: Thursday, September 12 | 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 establishing effective working relationships with organizations that support tenants. We will explore:
• Your responsibilities when working with prospective tenants on rental assistance.
• Connecting tenants in crisis situations to appropriate support organizations.
• Partnering with organizations that place individuals in housing.
Instructor: Shkelqim Kelmendi , Founder and CEO of Housing Connector.
When: Wednesday, September 18 | 1-4pm
Cost: $30 Members | $200 Freemium Subscribers
It is critical that anyone owning and/or managing Seattle residential housing is familiar with the numerous landlord-tenant laws that are enforced by various city government departments. Attorney, Christopher Cutting will review everything you need to know to comply with the City's rental regulations, including Just Cause Eviction, Rental Registration and Inspection, Move-In Fee restrictions and many other regulations in the areas of rental agreements and building condition.
When: Wednesday, September 25 | 3-4pm
Cost: $30 Members | $60 Freemium Subscribers | $90 Guests We all know where the leasing market has been, but where is it going? And what is the hard truth behind self-guided tours, in-person showings, and the myriad other techniques and tricks used in the leasing process? Leveraging data on half a million leased doors, Phil Leone, General Manager of ShowMojo will go deep into historic trends, future indicators and the latest innovations. He will also translate all that data into practical tips and techniques that can immediately be put to use.
Over the last few months, many RHAWA members have contacted the Support Center with questions and confusion about whether the use of grills, barbecues, and other open burning devices on balconies or within 10 feet of combustible construction in apartments, condos, or other multi-resident buildings is permissible. This has become a hot topic of concern, especially with the summer season when residents are eager to enjoy outdoor cooking and gatherings.
Yes, they are permitted under rules established by the Washington State Building Code Council (SBCC).
The confusion was caused when the SBCC adopted updated rules in December of 2023 to the State Fire Code that placed a ban on balcony grills that was scheduled to become effective on March 15, 2024. Many property owners and residents began to prepare for
compliance, leading to significant anxiety and inconvenience.
However, on March 15, 2024, the SBCC turned around and filed an Emergency Rule Making Order with the State Code Reviser immediately rescinding their December 2023 rule banning grills and BBQs. In the Emergency Order, SBCC stated a “transcription error” was made in the drafting of the new rules as it was not the intent of the SBCC to ban grills and barbecues on balconies.
So yes, barbecues and other open burning devices on balconies or within 10 feet of combustible construction in apartments, condos, or other multi-resident buildings is permissible. This clarification has been a relief to many, allowing residents to plan their summer activities without the worry of violating fire safety regulations.
Whether you have dozens of paid staff or just the occasional contractor or family member helping out, everyone contacting tenants on your behalf needs basic training—this includes you as the owner as well! There is a reason why so many court settlements require training. Most illegal actions by housing providers and their representatives are taken out of ignorance, not contempt. Violations of the Federal Fair Housing Act and other laws can also result in direct fines starting in the range of tens of thousands of dollars.
RHAWA offers many ways to gain knowledge and ask questions, but if you’re looking for basic housing provider education, our ONDEMAND Platform is the place to start. Every dues-paying member along with their benefit inheriting family or employees, has free access to several hours of quality instruction on state and local landlord-tenant laws, fair housing, and best practices for operating rental housing in Washington.
How to Access your FREE Education
• Like all of our other exclusive member benefits, it starts with logging into our website at RHAwa.org.
• Go to the Education + Events menu and choose Education Overview.
• On the side navigation select ONDEMAND Education.
• Click on the red Proceed to ONDEMAND Platform button.
At this point, a single-sign-on process will check your membership type and assign the appropriate classes based on whether you are a property owner, a property manager, or a manufactured housing community owner. Sometimes there is a delay in this process, especially with a slower internet connection. If you do not see any classes, just wait a few minutes, close the window, and then try going in again. Following is a breakdown of the education you will receive based on your member type. All course series are freshly reproduced on an annual basis.
These courses are designed to get an individual property owner who is responsible for setting their own policies and procedures, up and running quickly. Start with the RHAWA tools demonstration and then based on where your properties are located, complete one or both of the housing provider workshops.
Washington Housing Provider Workshop (4 hours): An attorney and experienced property management professional team up to explain all state laws and known local government laws at a high level. Throughout the materials, you will find handy tables showing various rent increase notice periods and other rules from city to city.
Renting Your Property with RHAWA Tools (1.5 hours): Denise Myers demonstrates how to use tools from the RHAWA website to start renting a property.
Selection and Use of Leasing Forms (2 hours): In this class, Attorney Chris Benis reviews the new selection of RHAWA rental agreement and term lease forms and explains how to select various options to reflect the specifics of your property and operating preferences. He will also review required and optional lease-signing addenda and those that can be used to update your agreement throughout the tenancy.
Expansion of Local Rental Laws (1.5 hours): Chris Benis provides a history of local rental regulations in WA State starting with Seattle in the 1980’s up to today. Which city introduced each new law concept, when other cities followed suit, and how different variations have added to the complexity of managing a rental housing business in Washington.
Seattle Rental Regulations (3 hours): Comprehensive overview of Seattle rental laws, and best practices. Seattle attorney, Christopher Cutting will cover everything including getting ready to rent and working with tenants from leasing to move-out.
Tacoma Rental Regulations (1.5 hours): Chris Benis covers the entire Tacoma Rental Housing code from its’ origination in 2019, to city council revisions and a voter initiative in 2023. New unique laws and changes that have been mirrored from other cities will be discussed.
Spokane Rental Regulations (1 hour): Attorney Eric Steven reviews all Spokane rental regulations and provides resources to enable a smooth transition to new operating procedures.
The 12-part Property Manager Series is designed for the property management employee. It includes basic onboarding must-haves for all employee training programs, in addition to a comprehensive education in fair housing, communications, marketing, and sales. Attorney-led classes cover basic landlord-tenant law required for managing residential rental properties in WA State. Variations on local law are covered within each topic area. All following classes are one hour long.
For those few members who own or manage manufactured housing communities, we offer a special attorney-led course covering the manufactured housing landlord-tenant act in addition to our demonstration on using RHAWA tools.
Renting Your Property with RHAWA Tools (1.5 hours)
Manufactured Housing Landlord-Tenant Act (3 hours)
ONDEMAND Library Subscriptions for $25/month or $120/year.
Access over 100 recorded classes anytime, day or night throughout your subscription period.
Over 100 courses are offered within three basic areas:
• Managing Your Business: Various financial professionals discuss different aspects of owning and operating rental housing such as bookkeeping, taxes, buying and selling strategies, estate planning, etc.
• Managing Your Rentals: Seasoned property management professionals share best practices for marketing, tenant selection, working with tenants, and maintaining the property.
• Understanding the Law: Attorneys explain all aspects of fair housing, landlord-tenant law, and other rental housing regulations. Many specialized topics such as hoarding, service animals, death of a tenant, or offered.
Attend Live Weekly Zoom Classes for $30/each or $250/year. For a deeper dive into any subject related to owning and managing rental housing, attend live weekly Zoom classes or subscribe to our ONDEMAND Library, where courses are updated every one or two years, depending on the nature of the topic.
If you have special training needs for your staff, we can help you create a custom employee training program for your organization. Set training goals for new employees, and encourage ongoing refresher training with your own staff training leader board and achievement awards. You can even include your own content like company policies and disclosures, complete with signature tracking for each employee. Contact Denise Myers at dmyers@RHAwa.org if you have any questions or need assistance setting up a training program for your company staff members.
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With the primary race behind us and looking ahead to November, I have been speaking with candidates from both sides of the aisle about their personal lives, what inspired them to enter politics, issues they are passionate about fighting for, and of course, their thoughts on the rental housing industry in the Evergreen State. I had the esteemed privilege of interviewing Representative Amy Walen a Democrat from District 48. For those not familiar, District 48 is composed of parts of Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Clyde Hill, Medina, as well as Yarrow and Hunts Point.
Representative Walen was born in Oregon but spent much of her adolescence and early adult life in Australia where she practiced law before moving back to the Pacific Northwest to reside in Kirkland. After her return, her goal was to pass the Bar Exam so she would be authorized to practice law. While she was working towards that goal, she began to work in the car dealership world. She did pass the Bar Exam with some help from an early manager in the car industry, but she became so enthralled with the car business that she never actually went on to practice law in the United States. She is now the Chief Financial Officer of a dealership she runs alongside her husband.
I asked Representative Walen about her thoughts on Australian law versus United States law.
“It all comes from English Common Law. So, the fundamentals of English Common Law, and then you add on legislation. I think, you know, Australia is less populated, less complex. Sort of more traditional solicitor and barrister system. Honestly, it’s much more reputable to be a lawyer there. They’re not allowed to advertise. They’re not allowed to take contingency fees,” Walen said with a little laugh.
“So that changes the reputation of the profession.”
I asked the Representative about what really spurred her into politics, and she spoke to her mindset after her mother passed away from breast cancer, which was one of her reasons for moving back to the United States, as well as her own breast cancer diagnosis and her journey out of cancer.
“I wanted to be of service when that happened. I wanted my life to be different. I wanted to do something worthwhile. So, I was trying to find a way to do that. I drove a lot of women to treatment, and I tried to get involved in support groups,” she said and spoke about one fateful day when she spoke at a Kirkland Chamber of Commerce event, and it was suggested she run for Kirkland City Council. “I didn’t think I was qualified; we were pretty new residents. There were a lot of big issues before the council. The redevelopment of Totem Lake and the annexation of the city, you know, we were going to double in size.”
She won that election and several years later she was chosen by her fellow councilmembers to be the Mayor of
Kirkland from 2014-2019. Towards the end of her time as mayor, she launched her campaign for State Representative of the 48th district and was elected in November of 2018 and has held the 2nd Representative position in her district ever since.
After this upcoming November election, some Legislative Committees may be reassigned, but Representative Walen is currently the Chair of the Consumer Protection and Business Committee as well as a member of the Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee, and Finance Committee. I asked her about some of the work she is passionate about in her committee work including property tax reform, public safety, caring for those who are most vulnerable, and protecting consumers in Washington State.
“I know about taxes, and we need tax reform so that’s why I wanted to be on finance. And also, in my district where older people bought their homes in the 1980s and 90s and they can’t even afford the taxes now.” She elaborated on her Civil Rights and Judiciary work with regard to public safety and gun violence, but also taking care of every member of our society with some per-
sonal experience of her own as she became the legal guardian for her nephew after her sister passed away.
Representative Walen’s favorite committee is the Consumer Protection and Business which she chairs. Walen feels like she understands the balancing act between the business and the consumer side and has something to say about her committee that you don’t often hear in politics.
“The members of the Consumer Protection and Business Committee are some of the best members of the legislature. Both sides of the aisle and we get along and we do work in a bi-partisan way, and we cooperate. I mean really consumer protection is not a partisan issue right.”
We ended our conversation on rent control and her no vote on HB2114 where she was only joined by three other Democrats. She wrote a lengthy post about her opposition to the bill at the time of her no vote which I will quote some of here.
“We know where rent control programs are in place, home maintenance tends to fall behind, and families feel the inability to move from homes that they have outgrown. I would also submit that first-generation landlords or working families where their hard-earned rental unit is their only retirement are at risk of being driven from the market due to fear of complex regulations. I think this limits the marketplace to corporate landlords who are sophisticated enough to navigate the regulatory environment and who can absorb more vacancies and rent changes. So, rather than encouraging a stream of development, then condo minimization of what’s been built as a pathway to home ownership, we halt the supply
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The Rental Housing Association of Washington (RHAWA) is gearing up for its largest event yet—ENGAGE24. Scheduled for October 8, 2024, Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue, this full-day tradeshow and annual business 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!
ENGAGE24 offers a platform for industry stakeholders to delve into best practices for rental operations, gain invaluable investor education, and strategize on effective advocacy techniques. With four breakout rooms, a theatre, and a spacious exhibitor hall, there are ample 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
What sets ENGAGE24 apart is its inclusivity. Historically catering to RHAWA members, this event now welcomes non-member professionals from across the industry, promising a richer, more diverse pool of perspectives.
Location: Meydenbauer Center
Location: Meydenbauer Center
Address: 11100 NE 6th Street Bellevue, WA 98004
Address: 11100 NE 6th Street Bellevue, WA 98004
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
For sponsors, this event offers unparalleled exposure and engagement opportunities,
including a coveted vendor profile in RHAWA's CURRENT Newspaper. Sponsors —a prime way to generate leads. Tickets will be purchased at the RHA booth, where attendees will write down their names and emails before dropping them into your raffle. During the happy hour, you'll have a minute to announce your prize winner and talk about
is the premier opportunity to maximize face-to-face time with decision-makers. The event concludes with a volunteer recognition happy hour, fostering connections among
For sponsors seeking to elevate their brand and engage with the rental housing
If you have any questions, please contact Luke Brown at:
Corey Hjalseth | External Affairs Manager | chjalseth@RHAwa.org | (206) 905-0603
Tim Hatley | Policy + Communications | thatley@RHAwa.org | (206) 905-0601
At the time of this publishing, we had most of the early results back in the primary election that took place on August 6th. However, if some results have changed significantly since the time of our publication we apologize.
Governor: RHAWA endorsed and supported Senator Mark Mullet (D) , but sadly he will not be advancing to the primary as only the top two candidates will continue. Washington will be choosing between Attorney General Bob Ferguson (D) and former Congressman Dave Reichert (R) for governor.
Lieutenant Governor: Denny Heck (D) who RHAWA supports, seems to be walking away with this one and will be hard to beat in the November general.
Commissioner of Public Lands: This race is still a little close to call, but it appears two Republicans will be facing each other in November. Former US Representative Jamie Herrera Butler (R) and Sue Kuehl Pederson (R) are currently in the lead, but this could change as more votes are counted. King County Council member Dave Upthegrove (D) is in a close third place.
Insurance Commissioner: The November race will be between two sitting state senators Patty Kuderer (D) and Phil Fortunato (R).
Marcus Riccelli-District 3: With Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig stepping down, Representative Marcus Riccelli is running unopposed and will win this seat in November. Something too close to call currently is the race for Riccelli’s current representative seat with a race between Ben Stuckart (D), Natasha Hill (D), and Tony Kiepe (R). Kiepe has the lead, but Hill and
District 4: There is a very crowded field running for the senate seat being vacated by retiring Senator Mike Padden. At the time of print, this race is too close to call. Current District 4 Representative Leonard Christian (R) seems to be the front-runner here to face off against Miguel Valencia (D) in November. Position 1 Representative Susanne Schmidt has overwhelming numbers to retain her seat, but the 2nd District 4 position could be a closer contest with Ted Cummings (D), Rob Chase (R), and Brandi Peetz (R) all too close to call.
District 5: A close race between Current District 5 Representative Bill Ramos (D) and former Representative Chad Magendanz (R) to fill the seat being vacated by current District 5 Senator Mark Mullet (D). This will be a race to watch in November. The favorites to fill Ramos’ representative seat will be Victoria Hunt (D) and Mark Hargrove (R)
Senator Ron Muzzall-District 10: This is a closely watched race as Senator Muzall (R) has a tight race going with
St. Clair (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 far-reaching implications on party balance in the Senate. The 10th is seen as a swing district as both current Representatives Clyde Shaver (D) and Dave Paul (D) are Democrats and look poised to retain their seats. The 10th is one of only two districts currently with multi-party representation.
Senator Curtis King (R)-District 14: This is the newly drawn district in Central Washington where Senator King is running to retain his seat and the two representative seats look to be a very close call between candidates from both parties. Only time will tell here.
Representative Chris Corry (R)-District 15: Corry is currently the representative for District 14, but after the redrawing of districts he is running for the District 15 representative seat. He seems to have this well in hand along with former Representative Jeremie Dufault (R) who looks to most likely
be his seatmate after the general election with a sizable lead for both candidates over their Democratic
District 26: If you remember above in District 10, I talked about how there are only a couple of districts statewide with multi-party representation. The 26th is the other district. A friend of RHAWA and of housing, Jim Henderson (R) will not be advancing to the November ballot. Instead, voters will decide between former District 26 Representative Jesse Young (R) and Addison Richards (D). The votes here will be extremely tight as the last few elections for this seat have been won by less than one percent. Jesse Young is an absolute No on rent control and will be a friend for housing providers in Olympia. Current Position 2 Representative Michele Caldier looks poised to retain the seat she has held for the last decade.
The senate seat is currently held by Senator Emily Randall (D) who is running for Washington’s 6th District Congressional Seat and looks poised to be the favored candidate on the November ballot. This will leave a temporary appointed senator in her seat until a special election can be held.
Continued on page 34
Denise Myers | Education + Resources Director | dmyers@RHAwa.org | (206) 905-0614
Now it’s easier to find your member benefits on the RHAWA website! Everything you need is on the Member Compass, and your Member Compass adapts for you based on your membership type. Therefore, it will only include links for the tools that are available to you. If you need everything, including residential and MHC rental tools, Property Management education, plus advertising to other members, upgrade to Enterprise Membership! When you login to RHAWA.org, you will be taken to your Member Compass.
Or you can get there by clicking on your profile name at the top of the page.
In addition to the customized tools list shown in the table to the right, you can access your financial transactions, edit your profile, see all the events you’re signed up for and pay any outstanding balance on your account.
Welcome to Your Member Compass™
Use the menu on the left to view/edit your profile and history of activities or follow the links below to access RHAWA members-only content and services.
Advocacy
Advocacy Center: Local Advocacy Center: State Become a grassroots advocate!
Azibo, Property Management Software, Login
Use of the application is included in membership - just pay $9.99 for each digital leasing packet, including all signers. If you would like to discuss high-volume pricing, contact office@ RHAwa.org
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Tap into the knowledge of fellow members by participating in forum discussions. Access to Community Forum
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Starting September 26, 2024, all RHAWA screening services will be hosted only on the Azibo platform. Take a moment to read this blog to learn how to create your free Azibo account and learn more about Azibo’s features. Screening Login: QuickApp
Support Center
Access over 90+ self-help articles or submit your question to staff.
Access the Support Center Articles + help
Contact
Enterprise memberships receive all RHAWA benefit variations.
Available to all member types.
Available to regular members and MHC members.
Available to all member types.
Education upgrades available to all member types.
Free education available to:
• Regular Members (Rental Owner Education)
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• MHC Members (MHC Education)
Legal forms available to:
• Regular Members (Residential Rental Forms)
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Vendor Membership
Available to all member types.
Available to all member types.
Azibo Screening and Legal forms available to:
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Support Center Articles and Help
• Regular Members (Residential Rental Articles + Help)
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Tim Hatley | Policy + Communications | thatley@RHAwa.org
(206) 905-0601
Over the past two years, the eviction process in King County has been broken and a major focus of RHAWA has been trying to fix it, both at the local level and state level. While the length of time that it currently takes to evict a tenant who refuses to pay rent or who posses a threat to other tenants is extremely frustrating and costly to housing providers, we are pleased to see elected local officials taking action to address the situation.
King County Superior Court has announced new measures to tackle the significant backlog of unlawful detainer (eviction) cases, a move that offers a partial victory for housing providers seeking timely resolutions. The changes, effective August 12, 2024, are a response to the challenges we have faced during the pandemic, with the court aiming to increase efficiency and fairness in handling these cases.
“RHAWA applauds these new actions the court will undertake. Led by Presiding Judge Keta Shah, these measures should modestly help reduce the backlog of unlawful detainer hearings the court is facing,” said RHAWA President Sean Flynn. “While the court is taking steps to address this serious matter, it doesn’t solve the underlying problem created by the state
and some local elected officials.”
In 2019, the state legislature passed bills that substantially reduced housing providers' ability to properly enforce provisions of the leases they sign with their tenants. In addition, local jurisdictions, such as Seattle adopted other anti-housing provider laws to limit their ability to properly manage their rental units. RHAWA is working at the city and state level to address these issues in the coming months.
In the meantime, we can look forward to assessing whether reforms made by the King County Superior will be effective.
• New Hearing Process: Eviction cases will now be heard in the Court's Ex Parte Department, streamlining procedures.
• Expanded Calendar: The court will offer more hearing dates and times, potentially speeding up the process for landlords waiting on delayed cases.
• Increased Judicial Resources: More judges will be available to handle the increased number of eviction cases, which have piled up due to legislative changes and eviction moratorium.
These updates are designed to help reduce the backlog of cases, a significant concern for landlords who have faced prolonged uncertainty and financial strain. By improving the hearing process and expanding availability, the court aims to provide quicker resolutions.
• Two-Part Hearings: Cases will now involve a first and second show cause hearing, conducted via Zoom.
• Initial Hearing Schedule:
o Timing: Four days a week (Monday-Thursday), from 8:30 a.m. to noon.
o Focus: The initial hearing will screen for representation needs, decide on a 30-day continuance, assess readiness for a contested or one-party default hearing, and determine if a commissioner should handle specific cases.
While these changes represent progress, there is still a long way to go. Housing providers will benefit from the increased efficiency and resources, but the system must continue to
evolve to address the challenges of the post-pandemic landscape. The target of processing 50 cases per calendar is a positive step, but the real victory will be achieved when the backlog is fully resolved, and housing providers can rely on a timely and effective judicial process.
In addition to the Superior Court action, King County Council member Reagan Dunn has introduced legislation at the County Council requesting an audit of how the Housing Justice Project (HJP) is spending taxpayers' dollars on their efforts to delay the eviction process on behalf of tenants who do not pay rent. While Council member Dunn’s motion has yet to be scheduled for a committee hearing, we hope there will be one soon. HJP’s concerted efforts to delay the eviction process denies housing providers ability to manage their properties, to cover improvement costs, and ensure proper tenant safety.
Finally, word has been leaking out about potential legislation at the Seattle City Council that would address the issue of the winter eviction moratorium and other related laws the council passed over the past six years. We shall see if these efforts move forward.
Join the Rental Housing Association of Washington at ENGAGE, an annual conference presenting a comprehensive program designed to foster conversations, collaborations, education, and productive engagement within the rental housing industry. ENGAGE offers best-practice education on rental operations, techniques for portfolio expansion as well as lively policy discussions to shape recommendations for the upcoming legislative session, and insight into effective advocacy programs taught by industry-leading professionals.
Enhance your skills, vision, and understanding to advance the equitable relationship between rental housing providers and residents, defend property rights, and encourage safe housing practices and policies. This can’t-miss event is for anyone managing a property or serving in an advocacy role within Washington state.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
• Large & Small Housing Providers
• Property Management Professionals
• Developers & Builders
• Investors & Portfolio Managers
• Real Estate Professionals
• Grassroots & Advocacy Staff
• Lobbyists
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
• Annual Business Meeting for RHAWA Members-Only
• 8 Educational Sessions: Covering best practices in rental operations and portfolio expansion.
• 8 Policy Round Table Discussions: Engaging in dynamic policy
discussions to shape future legislative recommendations.
• Continental Breakfast: Start your day with a nourishing breakfast while networking with peers.
• Boxed Lunches: Enjoy a variety of delicious options to refuel for the afternoon sessions.
• Afternoon Snack: Take a break and recharge with light refreshments.
• Happy Hour – cap off the day with a social hour, recognizing volunteers and fostering further connections.
The Meydenbauer Center offers a premier location for ENGAGE24, combining state-of-the-art 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, shop-ping, 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.
Eastside Funding specializes in finding the value in under-valued properties. They are here to provide you with innovative financing solutions that makes for a sound investment.
Searching for the best business insurance for your situation? Cisneros Agency can help you determine the right insurance coverage American Family has available for your specific needs.
We focuses on providing you with safe & proven solutions. Along with drain cleaning, we provide sewer inspections, sewer repair, sewer replacement, grease trap cleaning, and tree root removal.
ENGAGE will feature a stellar lineup of exhibitors, each a leader in their field within the rental housing industry. From insurance and banking services to expert handymen, electricians, plumbers, and locksmiths, all the help you need will be found in the exhibitor hall. With an anticipated attendance of 200-300 attendees, ENGAGE24 is the premier opportunity to maximize faceto-face time with decision-makers.
For sponsors seeking to elevate their brand and engage with the rental housing community, ENGAGE24 is the event to attend. See details on page 13.
We navigate clients through life’s challenges and unforeseen obstacles. We focus on Real Estate, Trust and Estate litigation and planning for the greater Seattle area.
Upon check-in, you will receive a printed copy of our event program. To ensure you capture every valuable insight, a digital version of the presentation slides and/ or session summaries, as well as a digital Program Guide, which will contain links to all materials, will be provided via your registration email the morning of the conference.
Here is a preview of the full schedule or check out RHAwa.org/engage24 for more details. If you have not done so already, make sure to register before we sell out! Space is limited and we expect a big turnout as we are reaching out beyond RHAWA membership.
About half of these sessions will be traditional lecture-based education, and the others will be more relaxed panel discussions designed for our industry leaders to share real-time problems, and work towards furthering collaborative progress in housing policy reform in Washington.
There will be four tracks, each with four 45-minute sessions, with plenty of time between for exploring our expo hall to speak with various company representatives and get to know other people like yourself. You can stick to one track or mix and match. When you register, we’ll ask you to complete a survey stating your preferences to help us prepare space for the more popular sessions.
This event promises to bring together multiple housing associations from all segments of the housing industry, so whether you are a small housing provider, a property management company, a large developer, a housing policy professional, or related to the rental housing industry in any way, there will be plenty of interesting discussions you can join from ad-hoc conversations with other attendees to the sixteen preplanned sessions to be facilitated by over 30 leaders in our industry.
Please note that both the sessions are subject to change.
RHAWA’s Annual Business Meeting* 8:15am-8:50am
*RHAWA Members-Only Event
Get ready for a thought-provoking experience with a diverse lineup of speakers. This event offers a unique opportunity to ENGAGE and gain valuable insights into
the ever-evolving landscape of rental housing, so join your RHAWA community at the 2024 Annual Business Meeting, held before the ENGAGE's morning keynote, and hear a State of the Association address with remarks from RHAWA President Sean Flynn and Deputy Director Melissa Canfield. The event will also recognize and install the Board of Directors and the Council of Regents.
9:15am-10:15am
Presenter: George Petrie & Audrey Riddle, Goodman Real Estate George and Audrey will discuss the challenges and opportunities of operating a successful both market and subsidized rental buildings in Seattle. He will bring data and insight of a seasoned developer/operator on what changes could to lead a better housing economy for everyone.
Education on Rental Operations
Whether you are experienced or new to the industry, this 4-part track provides a crash course on rental operations led by three top attorneys and one leading property management professional. Learn (or refresh) your legal obligations and best practices for managing risk and maximizing positive outcomes from your rental property investment. Licensed real estate brokers can earn 3.5 clock hours towards fulfilling continuing education requirements for license renewal.
10:30am-11:15am
Before leasing up a rental property, there's a lot the owner needs to prepare. Learn all about local laws, registration, and inspection and/or licensing, and
how to set up solid rental policies.
Speaker: Cory Brewer, Windermere Property Management/Lori Gill & Associates
11:30am-12:15pm
The best path toward a positive tenancy is diligent screening. Learn to make good choices while complying with fair housing laws and local tenant protections.
Speaker: Chris Benis, First Avenue Law Group
1:30pm-2:15pm
Some tenants seem overly demanding, while others may not communicate at all. Learn how to efficiently manage rental operations, including complaints, repair requests, and general maintenance, with all types of tenants while staying compliant with state and local laws.
Speaker: Christopher Cutting, Cutting Law Office / LT Services
2:30-3:15pm
All tenancies eventually come to an end. Whether through ordinary circumstances or the result of lease default, these endings can be fraught with conflict. Learn how to smoothly handle deposit returns and other issues with minimal drama while staying compliant with state and local laws.
Speaker: Maxwell Glasson, Glasson Legal PLLC
TRACK 2: Investor Development & Supply Discussions
We all know the real solution to housing affordability and most tenant problems is the lack of rental housing and the corresponding escalation of rent. But our legislators, city planning and
permitting departments, and banking institutions often hinder instead of helping housing developers to get the job done. In this track, we’ll bring together stakeholders from all sides to identify the barriers and possible solutions for promoting fast, efficient housing development that meets the needs of our communities.
10:30am-11:15am
Panel discussion on recent zoning changes that will soon impact urban neighborhoods across Washington State. What are the anticipated outcomes and what else is needed to encourage meaningful impact on Washington's housing shortage?
Panelists: Rep. Andrew Barkis, Alex Brennan, Futurewise
Moderator: Ian Morrison, Land Use Attorney
Small Multifamily Development: Barriers and Potential Solutions
11:30am-12:15pm
Those wanting to capitalize on upcoming urban zoning changes to add 1 to three units to single-family properties will still face daunting roadblocks. In this round-table discussion, experts in permitting, city planning, financing and building will debrief one or more real projects to identify possible improvements to the process.
Panelists: Eric Aasness, CMG Home Loans, (additional speaker TBD)
Moderator: Randy Bannecker, Public Affairs
1:30pm-2:15pm
Compared to traditional housing, Manufactured Home Communities offer a cost-effective alternative where residents benefit from home ownership, while renting the real property. Recent regulatory changes have been focused on park preservation and many of the possible solutions are a win-win for tenants and owners alike. Hear about the benefits and challenges of developing and owning manufactured home
communities and how the changing regulatory landscape may impact this area of the housing industry.
Panelists: Rep. April Connors, (additional speaker TBD)
Moderator: Chester Baldwin, RHAWA Lobbyist
Large Multifamily Development: Barriers and Potential Solutions
2:30-3:15pm
Construction of large multifamily communities and highrises can take years to work through the redtape and roadblocks before even breaking ground. A round-table panel including financing, city planning, permitting and construction will share ideas on streamlining large multifamily construction projects.
Panelists: Ian Morrison, McCullough Hill; Kevin Wallace, Wallace Properties; Emily Thompson, GMD Development)
Moderator: Randy Bannecker, Public Affairs
3: Lively Policy Discussions to Prep for the Upcoming Legislative Session
For far too long, housing industry stakeholders have taken a mostly reactionary approach to stop bad policies from passing during the legislative session each winter. We have invited many of these key stakeholders to come together for round-table discussions on new legislation we can promote to solve some of the serious housing issues plaguing our communities today.
10:30am-11:15am
Another legislative session and another battle to defeat rent control. But how long can this go on? This session will review the economic research, impacts and history of rent control as well as
discuss alternatives and strategies to better prepare for the next session in Olympia.
Speakers: Senator Mark Mullet, Morgan Shook, EcoNW
Tenant Assistance
11:30am-12:15pm
COVID-era rental assistance helped thousands of Washington state tenants keep their homes. However, that rental assistance went away resulting in these same tenants facing evictions. The Tenant Assistance Program (TAP) would harness the resources of state and local governments – potentially in partnership with major philanthropic organizations – to develop a program of short-term rental assistance for those in acute financial distress.
Panelists: Rep. Andrew Barkis; Shkelqim Kelmendi, Housing Connector, (additional panelists TBD)
Moderator: Audrey Riddle, Goodman Real Estate
Tenant Safety & Eviction Reform
1:30pm-2:15pm
The system is broken, and it’s time to fix it. This session will provide an overview of the current challenges to housing providers in the eviction process, case study in real time eviction challenges, and RHAWA’s proposals to reform the system.
Panelists: Rep. Adison Richards, Thurston County Volunteer Legal Services; Jim Henderson, Landlord Solutions; Jason Roth
Moderator: Synthia Melton, Dimension Law Group
Local Level Housing Rockstars
2:30-3:15pm
It started in Seattle and has spread to Bellingham, Spokane, Tacoma, Olympia, Vancouver, and beyond. Over a dozen cities and counties across the state either have been or will be considering new rental restrictions. Listen to those on the front lines who have experienced this bug and how you can begin to inoculate your local elected officials from being infected.
Panelists: Jared Nieuwenhuis, Bellev-
ue Deputy Mayor; Sara Nelson, Seattle Council President; CM Michael Cathcart
Moderator: Sean Flynn, RHAWA
TRACK 4: Insight into Effective Advocacy for Housing Providers
As it should be, our legislators’ main goal is to support what is best for their constituents, and there are well-organized tenant organizations feeding them a strategy that has not been working, and in most cases exasperates our housing problems by pushing out housing providers. This track is all about how to get their attention and influence them to adopt real solutions from the large and small businesses that want to provide quality housing that is reasonably affordable for the renters in their communities.
Tips & Tools for Housing Advocacy – Speaker Training Component
10:30am-11:15am
Engaging with lawmakers is the most nuanced part of our advocacy efforts and it is important to understand the most effective way to do so. In this session, we will teach you the most productive methods of individual advocacy as well as give you guidance on how to talk to elected officials about your experiences and the issues you face as a small housing provider.
Speakers: Krystelle Purkey, Lobbyist; Daniel Klemme (RHAWA)
Strength in Numbers: Lessons Learned in Tacoma Through Effective Advocacy Coalitions
11:30am-12:15pm
ty Chamber, and Washington Multifamily Housing Association to fight back against Tacoma’s ballot Measure 1. Learn how we built and sustained powerful alliances, harnessed our combined strength of diverse stakeholders to amplify our advocacy impact, and how we will leverage lesson learned from these efforts to achieve meaningful policy outcomes into future campaigns
Speakers: Jim Henderson, Landlord Solutions; Sean Martin, TPCAR; Ryan Makinster, WMFHA; Sean Flynn, RHAWA
Media Matters: How the Media Covers Housing
1:30pm-2:15pm
How does the media cover our industry and what do they view as our main issues? What stories do they bring to light and what different viewpoints do they lean on for those stories? Hear from those who cover housing issues all across our state and what they hear speaking with their sources in elected office and in the industry.
Panelists: Brandi Kruse; Sue Lani Madsen, (additional panelists TBD) Moderator: Lauden Espinoza, Cascade Public Relations
How We Fight Rent Control
2:30-3:15pm
How does the media cover our industry and what do they view as the main issues? How do they believe Washington can repair the broken eviction system as well as incentivize builders and other investors to continue building rental housing in Washington State to chip away at our housing shortage? Hear what they have learned from speaking with elected officials and housing organizations all over the state on ideas for coming together to fix the industry.
Speakers: Mary Hull-Drury, Washington Realtors; Chester Baldwin, RHAWA Lobbyist; Rod Kauffman, BOMA, (additional panelists TBD)
Please note that both the speakers and their sessions are subject to change.
Adison Richards, Thurston County Volunteer Legal Services
Adison is a candidate for State Representative, dedicated to tackling key issues such as homelessness, rising costs, public safety, and reproductive freedom. With a background in housing law and advocacy for crime victims, Adison brings a wealth of experience and a commitment to practical solutions. He has deep roots in the district, having lived in various parts, and is focused on creating opportunities for students and supporting the community with active representation in Olympia. Adison is a public interest lawyer. He has served clients in housing crises and crime victims, particularly domestic violence survivors.
Alex Brennan, Executive Director, Futurewise
Alex Brennan is the Executive Director of Futurewise, Washington’s statewide land use advocacy organization. Since becoming Executive Director, he has built successful campaigns to address climate change, housing affordability, and habitat and farmland protection in state and local planning. Previously, Alex worked as a planner at Community Roots Housing, where he worked to dedicate public land for affordable housing, implement inclusionary zoning, adopt parking and transportation demand management strategies, and create more pedestrian-oriented streets. He has a real estate and economic development background and holds a master’s in city planning from UC Berkeley.
April Connors, Republican, Legislative District 8, Position 2, State House of Representatives
Last fall RHAWA partnered with Tacoma Pierce County Association of Realtors, Tacoma-Pierce Coun- Continued on page 27
The speakers and panelists are listed alphabetically by their first name.
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.
Gatewise | Simple Multifamily Smart Access Kurtis Gilbreth (404) 985-1247 | gatewise.com
Brink & Sadler (253) 582-4700 | brinkandsadler.com
Hutchinson & Walter, PLLC (425) 455-1620 | hutchcpa.com
Omlin, Gunning & Associates PS Accounting/bookkeeping; Real Estate Investors (509) 467-2000
Chris Bourassa, C.P.A Shareholder Quickbooks Consultant 9515 N. Division, Suite 200 Spokane, WA 99218 (509) 467-2000 Fax: (509) 466-0537 chrisb@ogacpa.com
White Clover Properties (425) 230-6000 | whiteclover.org ADVERTISING | VACANCY LISTINGS
Pacific Publishing Co. | Print + Internet (206) 461-1322 pacificpublishingcompany.com
Seattle Rental Group | Property Management (206) 315-4628 | seattlerentalgroup.com
ShowMojo | Leasing Automation
Kristine Young (312) 584-8733 | hello.showmojo.com/sales
Fischer Heating and Air (206) 783-1190 | humaheating.com
Hurliman Heating and Air Conditioning hurlimanjp@gmail.com (509) 891-5110 | hurlimanheating.com
Envirotest | Mold, Air Quality Analysis, Inspections 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
Armitage & Thompson PLLC
Jessica Thompson (509) 252-5048 | jat@law-wa.com
Jessica Thompson | Attorney at Law (509) 252-5048 | jat@law-wa.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
GR Law Group (509) 456-0400 | grlawspokane.com
Gourley Law Group / The Exchange Connection (360) 568-5065 | gourleylawgroup.com
Holmquist & Gardiner, PLLC (206) 438-9083 | lawhg.net
Humphries, Patterson, & Lewis Law (509) 838-4148 | Neil E. Humphries
Jeffery Bennett (503) 255-8795 | bennett@warrenallen.com
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
Steven Schneider Law Firm (509) 655-1916 | stevenschneiderlaw.com
CMG Home Loans
Eric Aasness (206) 915-3742 | eaasness@cmghomeloans.com
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
BLIND CLEANING + REPAIR
Shine a Blind On-Site Ultrasonic Mini-Blind Cleaning + Repair (425) 771-7799 | shineablind.net
BUILDING INSPECTORS
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
(206) 922-8119 | nxtlevelpm.com Rife Masonry
Rife (206) 696-6998 | rifemasonry.com RKC Construction, Inc.
Caulk (206) 595-3565 | cajames.com T.E. Kelly Company, LLC
(206) 240-1950
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
| carpetcleaningspokane.com
Mordecai Elmblad Cleanco (509) 655-1916 | cleanco-wa.com
Cleaning & Carpet Cleaning cleanco-wa.com mordecai@cleanco-wa.com (509) 655-1916
James Giles (509) 534-1390 | jgiles97@hotmail.com
Carpet Cleaning & Floor Coverings
James Giles jgiles97@hotmail.com | (509)
The Chimney Specialists, Inc.
Pierce Co.: (253) 475-0399 | (888) 979-3377
Seattle: (206) 782-0151 | (888) 979-3377
South King Co.: (253) 833-0144 | (888) 979-3377 thechimneyspecialists.com
Masonry Restoration Consulting (425) 344-3893 masonryrestorationconsulting.com
Lund's Carpet Cleaning benlund1957@gmail.com (509) 922-6153 | carpetcleaningspokane.com
Genesee Carpet Cleaning (206) 569-5573 | genesseecarpetcleaning.com
Mordecai Elmblad Cleanco Carpet Cleaning & Cleaning (509) 655-1916 | cleanco-wa.com
Seattle Window Cleaners LLC (206) 453-3936 | seattlewindowcleaner.com
Puget Sound Collections
Garrett Michaud (206) 728-5000 | pugetsoundcollections.com
Capstone Commercial Real Estate Advisors
John Downing (206) 324-9427 | capstonerea.com
CBRE - PNW Multifamily | Private Capital Group (206) 292-1600 | cbre.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
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 | iNspect.ws
Straight Street Building 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
+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, Estimator: (206) 948-5280 (253) 335-4825 | (360) 886-2193 bravoroofs.com
Construction Expeditors, LLC (206) 595-8852 | constructionexpeditors.com
Danika Plumbing LLC
Frank Gaborik (425) 335-3515 | danikaplumbing.com
Diamond Roofers, LLP
Flat & Low Slope (206) 202-7770 | diamondroofers.com
ER Flooring (360) 402-9566 erflooring.com
Homestead Construction (509) 926-0755 | homesteadconstructioninc.com
Andrea Malone | (509) 926-0755 andrea@homesteadconstructioninc.com homesteadconstructioninc.com
Masonry Restoration Consulting (425) 344-3893
masonryrestorationconsulting.com
Maintco (425) 822-5505 | maintcogc.com
DVF Legacy Investments (206) 650-6113 | pugetsoundinvesting.com
Icon Real Estate Services Inc.
Jeremiah Roberson (425) 633-3330 | iconre.org
Kidder Mathews Dylan Simon: (206) 414-8575 Jerrid Anderson: (206) 499-8191
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
Capstone Solar (206) 580-3448 | capstonesolar.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
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 FINANCIAL | LIFE INSURANCE SERVICES
American Family Insurance
Cisneros Agency, LLC
Jonathan Cisneros (425) 513-8723 | amfam.com
Country Financial Financial, Insurance & Life Insurance Services
john.kapelac@countryfinancial.com (509) 228-9125
CPK Mortgage, Inc. (831) 682-5647 | cpkmortgage.com
Diamond Cut Insurance Group, Inc.
Larry Janowicz (425) 879-5198 | dcigi.com
Extant Realty Rachel Vinson (509) 251-2871 | rachel@extantrealty.com
Olympic Estate Group, LLC
G.A. “Jeri” Schuhmann (206) 799-0544 | OlympicWealthStrategies.com
FLOOD | SEWER OVERFLOW CLEANUP
Fischer Restoration (888) 345-2532 | fischerrestore.com
FLOOR COVERINGS
ER Flooring (360) 402-9566 | erflooring.com
Visible Difference Carpet cleaning; Floor coverings
James Giles (509) 534-1390 | jgiles97@hotmail.com
FORMS + LEASES
Rental Housing Association of Washington (206) 283-0816 | RHAwa.org
GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES
Seattle Public Utilities | Resource Conservation (206) 684-5251 | savingwater.org
Tacoma Housing Authority (253) 281-7674 | tacomahousing.net
GUTTER CLEAN + INSTALLATION
Axis Roof and Gutter, Inc. (360) 653-ROOF(7663) | axisroofandgutter.com
Seattle Window Cleaners LLC (206) 453-3936 | seattlewindowcleaner.com
HANDYMAN SERVICES
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
Greenwood True Value Hardware (206) 783-2900 | greenwoodhardware.com
Fischer Heating and Air (206) 783-1190 fischerheating.com
Hurliman Heating (509) 891-5110 | hurlimanjp@gmail.com
hurlimanjp@gmail.com
Seattle Rental Inspection Services (RRIO) (206) 854-0390 seattlerentalinspectionservices.com
Straight Street Home Inspector, Lic# 707,74657
FREE! WDIR/SPI report with every H.I. report (206) 999-1234 | iNspect.ws
Taurus Home Inspections
Lisa Lotus | WA State Home Inspector #2261 (206) 676-0023 | taurushomeinspections.com
HOARDING
Bio Clean, Inc. (425) 754-9369 | biocleanwa.com
American Family Insurance Cisneros Agency, LLC
Jonathan Cisneros (425) 513-8723 | amfam.com
Americus Insurance
shawn@americusinsurance.net (509) 944-5414 | americusinsurance.net
Brent Ward State Farm Insurance (425) 488-9100 | (888) 532-1875 brentwardagency.com
Country Financial Financial, Insurance & Life Insurance Services john.kapelac@countryfinancial.com (509) 228-9125
Diamond Cut Insurance Group, Inc.
Larry Janowicz (425) 879-5198 | larry@dcigi.com
Leavitt Group Northwest
Michael Hufschmid (253) 929-4643 | leavitt.com
INVESTMENT + FINANCIAL SERVICES
CBRE - PNW Multifamily | Private Capital Group (206)292-1600 | cbre.com
Paragon Real Estate Advisors, Inc.
Vendor of the Year | 2016 (206) 623-8880 | (800) 643-9871
paragonrea.com
Darco Inc (206) 322-9495 | darcoapts.com
Extant Realty
Rachel Vinson (509) 251-2871 | rachel@extantrealty.com
GoodRoots Companies, Inc (480) 710-6074 goodroots.io
Kay Properties & Investments
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
Omlin, Gunning & Associates PS Accounting/bookkeeping; Real Estate Investors (509) 467-2000 chrisb@ogacpa.com
CMG Home Loans
Eric Aasness (206) 915-3742 | eaasness@cmghomeloans.com
cmghomeloans.com/mysite/eric-aasness
CPK Mortgage, 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
Luther 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
Peak Mortgage Partners
Dave Eden | (206) 660-3014 | peakmp.com
Downtown Locksmith (206) 571-1847 | Lockanddroad.com
SnS Locks (206) 664-1209 |
and
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
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.
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
RODDA PAINT
Tim Puckett | (509) 868-3552 | roddapaint.com
Eden Advanced Pest Technologies (509) 327-3700 | edenspokane.com
Prosite Pest Control raymond@prositepestcontrol.com (509)925-5900 | prositepestcontrol.com
Straight Street Building/Home WDIR Reports
SPI/WDOs, Mold, Asbestos, Lead testing (206) 999-1234 | iNspect.ws
Best Plumbing Group (206) 633-1700 | (425) 771-1114
Fischer Plumbing, Inc. (206) 783-4129 | fischerplumbing.com
365 Plumbing (253)478-9298 | 365plumbingseattle.com
Action Drain & Plumbing kelli@actiondrain.net (509) 467-1717 | actiondrain.net
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
The Drain Specialists Sewer & Septic Lines, Sinks, Bathtubs & Toilets (509) 467-5555 | ktwinston@me.com
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
Foundation Group, LLC (206) 324-7622 | foundationgroupre.com
Icon Real Estate Services Inc.
Jeremiah Roberson (425) 633-3330 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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
| azibo.com
Gatewise | Simple Multifamily Smart Access
Kurtis Gilbreth (404) 985-1247 | 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
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 | paragonrea.com (206) 623-8880 | (800) 643-9871
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 | 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 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
Seattle Rental Inspection Services (RRIO) (206) 854-0390 seattlerentalinspectionservices.com
Straight Street Rental Housing Inspections
John Leon Gonzalez (206) 999-1234 | iNspect.ws
RETIREMENT PLANNING
Olympic Estate Group, LLC Jeri Schuhmann (206) 799-0544 | OlympicWealthStrategies.com
Axis Roof and Gutter, Inc. (360) 653-ROOF(7663) | axisroofandgutter.com
Bravo Roofing, Inc.
GoldStar Vendor + Vendor of the Year | 2014 John Paust, Estimator: (206) 948-5280 (253) 335-4825 | (360) 886-2193 john@bravoroofs.com | bravoroofs.com
Diamond Roofers, LLP | Flat & Low Slope (206) 202-7770 | diamondroofers.com
ROOFING SERVICES
Fields Roof Service Inc. (253) 852-4974 | (888) 852-4974 fieldsroofservice.com
Mono Rooftop Solutions
Commercial / Residential Repair & Maintenance (206) 767-2025 | monorooftop.com
SCREENING
ACRAnet
Lender, Mortgage & Screening Cole Hockett | (509) 324-1350 | acranet.com AZIBO
Financial Services Platform (855) 920-3565 | azibo.com
SECURITY
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 | azibo.com ShowMojo | Leasing Automation Kristine Young (312) 584-8733 | hello.showmojo.com
SUBMETERING
Submeter Solutions, Inc. Cameron Towe | (425) 228-6831 submetersolutions.com TAX CONSULTING | PREPARATION
Brink & Sadler Johann Drewett (253) 582-4700 | brinkandsadler.com Hutchinson & Walter, PLLC (425) 455-1620 | hutchcpa.com
ACRAnet (509) 324-1350 | acranet.com
Submissions are compiled and
RHAWA does not guarantee submissions will be included.
Continued from page 20
Rep. April Connors, a Republican, has represented Washington’s 8th Legislative District (Position 2) in the House of Representatives since January 9, 2023. Her current term runs through January 13, 2025. Connors, a lifelong resident of the Tri-Cities, is running for re-election in the general election on November 5, 2024, having advanced from the primary on August 6, 2024. With a background as a successful residential real estate agent and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Washington State University, Connors also has experience as a legal assistant working on city codes and a U.S. Supreme Court housing case.
Andrew Barkis, Republican, Legislative District 2, State House of Representatives
Rep. Andrew Barkis represents the 2nd Legislative District. He was first appointed to the state House of Representatives in February 2016 and is currently serving his fourth term as a state representative. Since 2019, Andrew has served as the ranking Republican on the House Transportation Committee. As one of the state’s transportation budget leaders, he is a champion for fiscal responsibility, sensible reform, and reprioritization. His goals are to keep costs down, stop forced taxes on drivers, and complete projects with existing state revenue. Andrew’s personal knowledge, experience, and leadership as a local business owner have spurred his drive to address the housing and homelessness crisis that continues to grip Washington state. One of his main priorities is increasing the housing supply. He continues to push for the removal of unnecessary barriers that keep affordable housing from being built throughout the state.
Audrey Riddle, IMPACT Program Ambassador, Goodman Real Estate
Audrey Riddle joined Goodman Real Estate in 2018 as the IMPACT Program Ambassador. She brings a wealth of service experi-
ence to the role, with years of experience contributing to the growth of her community through philanthropy and engagement. Prior to joining GRE, she worked for the Catholic Housing Services as a Program Manager and managed an apartment building for low-income working families and families coming out of homelessness. Audrey holds a BA in Psychology from Seattle Pacific University (SPU) with minors in Leadership Studies. While there, she worked with Tent City 3 during their second stay on SPU’s campus. Through that experience, she developed a passion for service and combating homelessness.
Brandi Kruse, Journalist & Political Commentator
Brandi is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and political commentator. A veteran political reporter in Washington state, she left Seattle's FOX affiliate in 2021 to launch a podcast. The unDivided Podcast focuses on pushing common sense solutions to the crises we face as a state and a nation.
Chester Baldwin, RHAWA Lobbyist
Chester is a lobbyist and attorney at Baldwin Legal Group, PLLC, with a comprehensive background in Healthcare, Finance, Business Computer Information Systems, and Law. His practice focuses on representing clients in legislative and governmental agency interactions, leveraging his strong relationships with leadership in both the House and Senate to advance client priorities. He routinely reviews and drafts legislation and testifies before the Legislature. Chester holds degrees from the University of Washington's Foster School of Business and School of Public Health and Community Medicine, and a Juris Doctorate from Seattle University School of Law, all with honors. He is a member of the Washington State Bar and was admitted to practice in Federal Court. Chester's client base spans various associations and industries, aiming
to mitigate regulatory and tax impacts on their operations.
Chris Benis, Attorney, First Avenue Law Group
Chris is Of Counsel to the law firm of First Avenue Law Group, PLLC, with offices in Seattle, WA. Chris attended the University of Washington, where he received a B.A. in Political Science, a Master of Urban Planning and J.D. from its School of Law. He represents property management firms, individual real estate investors, real estate brokerages, industry trade associations, design professionals, and construction companies. He advises his clients on practical and understandable solutions to their legal needs and concerns. As a lifelong rental property owner, he has directly managed over 50 rental units. Chris currently serves as Legal Counsel for the Rental Housing Association of Washington (RHAWA) and is a past president of the organization. He is currently on RHAWA’s Board of Directors and is chair of its Legal Defense Fund (LDF) and Education Committee.
Christopher Cutting, Attorney, Cutting Law Office / LT Services
Christopher is known as a tireless advocate for housing providers. He has been practicing residential and commercial landlord-tenant law, judgment enforcement, and appeals since 2009. He is an eight-time "Rising Star" attorney in Super Lawyers magazine and holds a perfect 10.0 rating from Avvo. com. Before going into private practice, Christopher served as a law clerk to Judge Marywave Van Deren at the Washington Court of Appeals. Christopher currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Rental Housing Association of Washington, is the Vice President of the organization, and is the Co-Chairman of their Legislative Committee. He is the co-author of the “Residential Leasing Practice” section of the Washington Lawyer’s Practice Manual and has published ar-
ticles in several legal journals and real estate trade publications.
Cory Brewer, VP Residential Operations, Windermere Property Management/Lori Gill & Associates
Cory oversees a team of Property Managers and Leasing Agents who collectively manage over 2,000 rentals throughout King & Snohomish Counties, specializing primarily in single-family residential. Cory is a board member at both RHAWA and the Northwest MLS and serves on the NARPM Governmental Affairs Committee. Cory is also a licensed clock hours instructor and often leads classes for RHAWA and other organizations focusing on topics such as landlord/ tenant relationships and Fair Housing.
Daniel Klemme, Government Affairs & Membership Development, Rental Housing Association of Washington
Daniel is a seasoned advocate for property rights and a dynamic leader within the rental housing industry. With a focus on innovative solutions and effective communication, Daniel has established himself as a trusted figure in the field. Having dedicated his career to addressing homelessness and housing insecurity, Daniel is recognized as an expert in housing provider outreach and engagement strategies. His work in the nonprofit sector, particularly in finding permanent housing solutions for Veterans and Section 8 program participants, showcases his commitment to creating positive change in his community. Daniel serves as a Continuum of Care board member in the Spokane Region, where he actively contributes to addressing homelessness at a systemic level.
Emily Thompson, Partner, GMD Development Emily Thompson has an expertise that
spans the spectrum of real estate development having worked with non-profits, for-profits, and market rate developers on commercial and residential projects, but affordable housing is where her passion lies. She thrives on finding creative and collaborative solutions to address the challenges within affordable housing development. Throughout Emily’s career, she has consistently demonstrated her commitment to the community with the development and operation of high quality, safe housing for those in need. Emily is involved in the Housing Development Consortium as the past co-chair of the Tax Credit Affinity Group and is active in ULI.
Eric
Aasness,
Branch Manager, CMG Home Loans
For over 40 years, Eric Aasness has been a top-producing mortgage lender serving the Pacific Northwest, California, Hawaii, Arizona, and Florida with purchase and refinance financing for 1-4 unit properties. With a degree in finance and economics, Eric excels at working on complex transactions. He loves helping real estate investors and self-employed borrowers and financing rehabilitation and new construction projects. Eric is a licensed real estate instructor and teaches continuing education classes for the King County Association of Realtors as well as first-time homebuyer programs for the Washington State Housing Finance Commission. In his free time, Eric is busy boating, fishing, wrenching on classic cars, and has served on the board of several non-profit organizations.
George Petrie, Chief Executive Officer, Goodman Real Estate
As the CEO of Goodman Real Estate, George brings more than 35 years of industry experience and expertise. George has cultivated a professional culture driving success through the company’s mission, vision, and values. He has led teams to develop, acquire, and dispose of over 350 assets globally. With expe-
rience in finance, accounting, property and asset management, and capital markets, George invests his time and talents in the future of real estate investment at GRE. George drives satisfaction by challenging his team at GRE to reach their goals, fostering growth and leadership within each individual. He is a passionate advocate for increasing the national housing supply by influencing policymakers to remove legislative and regulatory barriers. George believes that a portion of profitable work should go toward those at risk in the community. This led to the creation of IMPACT, a company-wide initiative that collaborates with local non-profits to serve vulnerable groups, focusing on shelter, community, education, sustainability, and relief.
Ian Morrison, Attorney, McCullough Hill
Ian’s practice focuses on land use entitlements with an emphasis on working in Puget Sound jurisdictions. Ian works with developers and owners to create and execute strategies that provide predictable, cost-effective pathways to permits. Prior to joining McCullough Hill PLLC, he worked for Governor Gregoire as a liaison to local government, civic, and businesses throughout Puget Sound. Ian uses his policy background to help clients navigate political issues arising in the land use process.
Jared Nieuwenhuis, Bellevue Deputy Mayor
Council member
Nieuwenhuis was first elected to the council in November 2017, for a four-year term starting in January 2018. His focus is on neighborhoods and results-oriented local government. He was chosen deputy mayor in January 2020 and again in January 2022. Jared represents the council on the King County Growth Management Planning Council, the Association of Washington Cities Federal Legislative Priorities Committee, and the Sound Cities Association Public Issues Committee. He is the council liaison to the
Transportation Commission. Jared is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, pursued graduate studies at Brown University, and is a graduate of both the Advance Bellevue and Bellevue Essentials community leadership programs.
Jason Roth, Independent Rental Housing Provider
Jason is widely recognized as “Van Guy” in Seattle, has gained attention for his personal and legal struggles in property management. After purchasing and renting out a home in Seattle, Jason faced significant issues when his tenant, who had not paid rent and was subletting illegally, refused to vacate. Living in a retrofitted van while battling the lengthy and complex eviction process, Jason has become an outspoken advocate for addressing the systemic delays in King County’s court system. His experience underscores the urgent need for reform in eviction proceedings and tenant-landlord disputes in Seattle.
Jim Henderson, TPCAR Government Affairs Lobbyist | Founder & President, LandlordSolutions
Jim Henderson is a registered lobbyist and is a persuasive, knowledgeable, and powerful voice to advocate on behalf of the rental housing industry. Jim has a vast institutional knowledge and a clear understanding of the perspectives of rental property owners, property managers, and tenants. He is also a licensed clock hours instructor. Jim owns and manages a landlord advocacy business, including landlord coaching and legislative representation, as well as being very active with RHAWA.
Kevin Wallace, President, Wallace Properties Kevin Wallace is President of Wallace Properties, a commercial real estate company based in Bellevue. His primary focus at the Company is the develop-
ment of apartments and mixed-use projects in the Seattle area. He also oversees the existing portfolio of apartment, retail, and office properties the Company owns and manages in Washington State and Arizona on behalf of its investors. He’s currently working on the development of over 2,500 apartment units at locations in Seattle and Bellevue.
Mark Mullet, Democrat, Legislative District 5, State Senate
First elected to the Senate in 2012, Mark is currently the Vice Chair of the Senate Ways & Means Committee, where he also serves as the leader of the Senate’s capital budget team. The capital budget makes infrastructure investments across Washington, funding affordable housing, school construction, healthcare facilities, environmental projects, and much more while creating tens of thousands of jobs. Mark also serves on the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee and the Senate Business, Financial Services, Gaming & Trade Committee. He’s widely recognized as a collaborative legislator skilled at bringing people together across the aisle to work on major issues like affordable housing, access to college, and public safety. Mark currently owns several small businesses, including a Zeeks Pizza restaurant and four Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream shops. From 2009 to 2013 Mark served on the Issaquah City Council. Before that, Mark worked for more than twelve years in International Finance at Bank of America, and UBS, before returning home to Washington in 2006.
Maxwell Glasson, Attorney, Glasson Legal PLLC
After graduating from the University of Washington, Max trained as a real estate appraiser. He soon discovered that he wanted to be more directly involved in facilitating real estate transactions and business start-ups, and he decided to attend law school. Upon graduation from Santa Clara University – with a focus on real estate and business law
– he began his practice at a law firm in Lake Tahoe on the California/Nevada border, where he handled transactions and litigation in the aforementioned areas. In 2017 he moved back to the Northwest to start a family. Becoming a father inspired Max to round out his practice with estate planning services.
Michael Cathcart, City Council Member, District 1
Michael has been on the Spokane City Council since 2019 and currently serves as Council President Pro Tem. His tenure is marked by a commitment to securing resources for underserved neighborhoods, enhancing public safety, and improving housing affordability. In 2023, he successfully championed a language access policy to support Limited English proficiency residents. A Montana State University alumnus, Michael has a history of community involvement as a Neighborhood Council Chair and task force member on housing and employment issues. Recognized by the Spokane Association of Realtors and the Northeast Community Center for his advocacy, Michael is dedicated to making Spokane a thriving city for all.
Morgan Shook, Partner & Senior Policy Advisor, ECOnorthwest
Morgan is a partner and director at ECOnorthwest. He conducts economic, financial, and policy analyses on projects related to real estate, land use, and transportation. He has deep expertise in economic, market, and financial analytics that he brings to bear in business, enterprise, and policy settings. Morgan regularly works for a range of government, business, and nonprofit clients providing analyses that highlight opportunities, consequences, and trade-offs of decisions affecting land and infrastructure. Before joining ECONorthwest, Morgan worked in biotechnology development at the Institute for Systems Biology, and health disparities research at the University of Chicago. Morgan served on the
Seattle Planning Commission, teaches at the UW Commercial Real Estate Program, and serves on the ULI Northwest Seattle Advisory Board.
Randy Bannecker, President, Bannecker Public Affairs
Randy has over 20 years of experience in advocacy and relationship-building, specializing in advising major corporations, trade organizations, and political action committees on complex land use and public policy initiatives. Randy leverages his regional knowledge to achieve political successes and protect client interests, while also serving in leadership roles within the Greater Seattle business community.
Rod Kauffman, President, Building Owners and Managers Association
Seattle King County Strategic Plan Execution, BOMA's Primary Spokesperson, Special Focus on Commercial Real Estate and Business Coalitions and Government and Industry Affairs Leadership and Coordination
Ryan Makinster, Government Affairs Director, Washington Multifamily Housing Association
Ryan currently serves as the Director of Government Relations for the Washington Multi-Family Housing Association (WMFHA) where he oversees the advocacy and public affairs efforts of the organization. He is responsible for advocacy at state and local level, while supporting the federal program of the National Apartment Association. He came to WMFHA from representing the residential construction industry in the greater Portland and SW Washington area for over 4 years at BIA of Clark County and HBA of Metro Portland.
Sara Nelson, Seattle City Council
President
A native Californian, Sara moved to
Seattle in 1990 for her Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology at the University of Washington, which she earned in 1997. After a decade in academia, she transitioned to public service as a City Council Legislative Aide, where she helped pass key legislation on affordable housing, transit, and environmental protection. Now, as the first small business owner on City Council since 2009 and Chair of the Economic Development, Technology, and City Light Committee, Sara focuses on revitalizing downtown, supporting small businesses, and addressing homelessness and public safety and housing growth.
Sean Flynn, President & Executive Director of Rental Housing Association of Washington, Owner of Flynn & Associates Sean's firm focuses on representing clients in real estate and trust and estate litigation, planning and transactions. He also manages several of his own rental properties. He serves as RHAWA Board President and Executive Director. Sean attended the University of Washington for his bachelor’s degree. He holds an MBA with a concentration in Finance from Clark University. He also holds a J.D. from Seattle University School of Law. While in law school, Sean founded the Real Estate Law Student Association and was chosen by his classmates to deliver the commencement address during the graduation ceremony.
Sean Martin, Chief Executive Officer, Tacoma Pierce County Association of Realtors Sean Martin currently serves as CEO of the Tacoma-Pierce County Association of Realtors®, an organization which serves to unite real estate professionals in Pierce County as a resource center and political advocate for the mutual benefit of REALTORS® and consumers. His prior experience includes many years in the housing industry, including previously as Government Affairs Director and
Executive Director at the Rental Housing Association of Washington. As Executive Director with RHAWA he overhauled and modernized the suite of benefits offered to membership, implemented new association technology, and managed the creation of new membership business lines for non-traditional forms of rental housing ownership. Sean is a University of Washington graduate (Political Science).
Shkëlqim Kelmendi, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Housing Connector Shkëlqim is the Founder and CEO of Housing Connector, a national B2B organization that believes no unit should sit vacant while there are people in need of a home. Since launching in Q4 2019 Housing Connector has partnered with 2,200+ properties and housed over 8,200 people in need of a home. In 2020 Housing Connector was recognized as a Fast Company World Changing Idea and Shkëlqim was selected as a Puget Sound Business Journal Innovator of the Year and a 2024 40 under 40 honoree.
Synthia Melton, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Dimension Law Group, PLLC
Synthia specializes in Business Law and Real Estate, including Landlord-Tenant matters. She works with real estate investors and small business owners on complex transactional and litigation issues and serves as general counsel for various businesses across Washington State. Recognized as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers from 2016-2019, Synthia combines her litigation skills with practical solutions to navigate legal challenges. She holds a J.D. from Seattle University School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Western Washington University. Synthia is committed to supporting entrepreneurs and teaching community courses on real estate and business.
“We can do it for half the price a plumber would charge.” said an ad on the radio as I was driving to work one morning. “Half the price a plumber would charge!” I thought, “If they aren’t using plumbers, then who is doing the work?”
There is an old perception of the plumber being the butt of jokes, literally, with it hanging out as he's bent over working under a sink. Or that you don't have to know much to do what plumbers do, “Water flows downhill and keep your fingers out of your mouth.” Like any profession, there are always humorous stereotypes, but when I hear ads like the one on the radio it makes me step back and wonder, “does the average person really know or even care to know what the difference is between some guy that can do the job, versus a “real” statelicensed journeyman plumber?”
I came face to face with this issue when a customer with a drain problem came into our office stressing the price difference between my company and the other company she ended up using for the final repair of her drain. I know our market and know we are fairly priced for our services, so I knew something else was going on. She brought a copy of the invoice and proposal from the other company. It all looked professional, but I suspected these weren’t plumbers. So, I went on the Washington State Labor and Industries website* and typed in the technician’s name. It turns out the other company's "plumber" was actually a 2-year "Plumbing Trainee" and his trainee card had expired 4 years ago, plus he had an infraction the year it expired. I investigated the company and found the owner was also a trainee, with an expired license as well. Who cares, right? I mean they did the job and it works… at least for now. The fact this person had an expired license makes me think it's unlikely this job was permitted and inspected.
“Plumbers protect the health and safety of the public.” Sound like an exaggeration? Two thousand years ago, the Romans realized that fresh water supply and wastewater removal was linked to
the overall health of the city and built aqueducts and sewers. If you've ever been to a developing country you may experience firsthand how a lack of knowledge and good practices plays out. Oftentimes wastewater is mishandled, negatively affecting water quality and the surrounding environment. Today, technology has advanced to a much higher degree of responsibility and demand on the plumber. In the State of Washington, plumbers and apprentices are not allowed to work on plumbing without being state-licensed. When permits aren’t pulled and laborers instead of licensed tradesmen are used, it makes me wonder. What other corners are being cut that would allow a price to be dropped so far below what plumbers typically charge to do a job right?
Licensed Plumbers and Trainees are required to know and learn the Uniform Plumbing Code. We know what causes botulism in a dishwasher, so there is a code for that. We’ve figured out why showers scald when you flush a toilet, or the cause of sewer gas smell that makes a family sick, and there are codes for those as well. Poor plumbing practices can cause unnecessary repairs, property damage, illness, or loss of life. When I see questionable practices I have to admit, I get a little nervous for the people who live with the system and don’t know what the cheaper guy didn’t do or didn’t know he was supposed to do.
Both licensed plumbers and licensed plumber trainees are required to take Continuing Education (CEU) classes that are taught by state certified CEU instructors teaching pre-approved state certified courses. On top of that, for a trainee to achieve the next level of licensing and/or obtain a Residential or Commercial Journeyman Plumber License, he must continue reporting the hours that were worked in the plumbing field to meet the minimum required hours for advancement. To become a Journeyman Plumber a trainee must keep himself state-licensed for the hours required to be eligible to take the Journeyman Plumber test. This can take 4 to 5 years. Once he obtains a
residential or commercial Journeyman Plumbers License, he still has to renew his license every two years which means meeting state-required CEUs and paying a fee.*
To this day, I'm still amazed when I interview plumbers and trainees who have allowed their licenses to expire or were working for a company that I’ve seen advertising “weekly training”, when in fact, no weekly training was ever done. It’s difficult to imagine a professional plumbing shop that doesn’t truly believe in continuing education beyond just the state minimum yet expects their technicians to embrace all the Plumbing Code and technological changes in our industry. Just the advances and options in water heaters alone are staggering Air to Water Heat Pumps, Tankless, Power Vent, Direct Vent, Indirect, High Recovery…. and the list goes on. Even the material that piping is made of has evolved, in some cases more than others.
* To find out in the state of Washington if a licensed technician is working for you simply go to the L&I website (lni.wa.gov) to enter the individual’s last and first name. I also recommend researching the company you want to use as your plumbing and/or heating service company. How long have they been in business? Are employees drug tested and background checked? Do they of-
fer weekly training, reviews online, a BBB rating, a code of ethics, and a mission statement? These are all part of the culture that defines the boundaries the tradesman is working in, and ultimately the quality of service you will receive and the educated choices presented to you prior to making your purchasing decision.
A true tradesman pursues training and licensing with passion, and sees him or herself as a professional, capable of educating and offering the right solutions, safely and correctly installed, to a homeowner or business owner. So, what do good professional plumbers really know these days? I can assure you it's “a heck of a lot more than nothin'!”
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.
Daniel Bannon | Grassroots Organizer
| dbannon@RHAwa.org | (206) 905-0609
78% of rental housing providers in Tacoma who participated in the RHAWA survey are considering selling their rental properties and exiting the market. The exodus of small housing providers that has plagued Seattle’s rental housing market for the last half decade has made its way to the City of Tacoma thanks to the incredibly restrictive and harmful policies of Tacoma Measure 1.
In the fall of 2023, the City of Tacoma was faced with the largest threat local housing providers in the city have ever faced. The Tacoma Measure 1 ballot initia-
tive contained a suite of restrictive rental housing policies that emulated many of the policies that have plagued cities in King County for years. The initiative was
produced by “Tacoma for All”, a far-left advocacy group supported by a multitude of socialist organizations as well as tenant labor unions. The initiative barely collected enough signatures to be included on the November ballot, but this was followed up with one of the largest and most well-funded tenant advocacy campaigns we have seen in Washington state. “Tacoma for All” claimed that this initiation would be a resounding victory with overwhelming support, however, this did not prove to be the truth.
To combat this initiative RHAWA led one of its most comprehensive grassroots efforts in history. Dozens of members volunteered to help defeat this initiative by doorbelling, distributing yard signs, and engaging with their networks to communicate the harmful impact this set of policies would have on the citizens of Tacoma. Resulting from our efforts and our partnerships with other organizations, Measure 1 proved to be much less popular than tenant advocates had anticipated. When the results came in, Measure 1 passed by less than one percent, a far cry from the overwhelming victory the proponents of this policy expected. The results of this battle sent a clear message to lawmakers that these policies are not overwhelmingly popular despite the claims of tenant advocacy groups.
From the data that we gathered in this initial survey run, it is clear that housing providers in Tacoma are, at the very least, finding these policies confusing and expensive to follow and, at worst, selling their rental properties and investing their capital in markets outside of Tacoma.
Housing providers view Measure 1 as making housing less affordable, less accessible
and less safe. Over 90% of respondents believe that Measure 1 is having a negative impact on their ability to provide affordable rental housing. While over 80% of re-
spondents have, or plan to, increase their screening criteria requirements in response to measure 1 leading to more applications being denied.
Measure 1 makes has a harmful impact on the safety of rental housing communities by preventing evictions of dangerous residents. One in four respondents has been unable to move forward with an eviction since the passage of measure one. This, combined with significant delays housing providers have experienced in eviction court proceedings, makes the proper operation of a rental business nearly impossible. Nearly all eviction efforts were related to nonpayment of rent.
An additional regulatory and administrative burden on housing providers is increasing rental prices in the city of Tacoma. 98% of respondents believe that Measure 1 made providing housing more expensive. The increased expense of Measure 1 can be seen simply by observing how many respondents are seeking additional
assistance in order to comply with the law. Over half of respondents needed some sort of additional assistance with the majority stating that they consulted with a legal professional. Legal assistance is incredibly costly, however, given the extreme policy of Measure 1 it makes sense that so many housing providers have consulted with an attorney simply to make sure they are properly following the law.
While the Measure 1 advocates do not seem concerned with the lasting impact of their policies, choosing to instead view the passing of the ballot initiative as the final victory in achieving their goals, RHAWA is deeply concerned with how these policies are currently impacting renters and housing providers in Tacoma. RHAWA will continue to conduct this survey periodically to observe the continued impact of the Measure 1 provisions. It is inevitable that Measure 1 will continue to harm rental housing providers and RHAWA will continue this fight.
We need our members’ help to push back against Measure 1 and those who hope to implement a similar policy statewide. Our ENGAGE conference in October will lay the foundation for our advocacy efforts over the next year and we are excited to share what we are working on with our membership and the industry at large. You can register for ENGAGE on our website; this event has a limited capacity and it is crucial to register now to guarantee your attendance.
stream and therefore confidence in the market.”
Representative Walen had a more detailed statement, but I wanted to highlight and acknowledge that she understands the supply-side issues that come with this type of legislation and how this will lower current supply along with new supply and drive up rents at the end of the day.
We closed our conversation by talking about the penalties outlines in the failed rent control bill. Walen spoke about how the penalties overstepped consumer protection boundaries and how the bill had the audacity to assume that every housing provider is acting with ill intent if a mistake is made or if they attempt to remove a problematic tenant from their units. As a result, she tried to add a number of amendments which were all rejected.
“It doesn’t acknowledge that we have problematic tenants that are far behind in their rent and that the non-profit community can’t even build housing. The penalties in the bill, it brings in
Consumer Protection Act penalties instead of just leaving it RLTA. That is very punitive, I mean it’s punitive. And it really opens small landlords up for huge lawsuits against them. I don’t believe in rent control fundamentally either. We need to work on supply, and I think this bill does the opposite,”
Walen said and expanded on her concern about the penalties even further.
“I believe they put in a per se violation meaning that there’s a presumption that its deceptive conduct, a presumption its not reasonable in the course of business. The trial lawyers are just going to tee off on landlords, they can’t wait. Every lawyer in town is gonna be, I don’t even have to prove the landlord did anything wrong. Is that fair? I don’t think so.”
I want to thank Representative Amy Walen for taking the time to speak with me for this month’s issue of Current. She is running once again for her 48th District seat and we look forward to seeing her back in Olympia in January to help RHA and our collation organizations to continue advocacy against rent control.
Continued from page 14
District 27: No surprise here as current Representative Jake Fey and Speaker of the House Laurie Jinkins will be heavily favored in November. It should be noted that Fey is running against Devin Rydel Kelly who was one of the main architects and proponents of the extremely onerous rental housing policies put in place by Tacoma Measure 1 in November of 2023.
Maia Espinoza (R)-District 28: The numbers here are telling; incumbent Senator Twina Nobles (D) holds a small lead, but both Espinoza and Senator Nobles will be moving on to the general election in November. Current Representatives Mari Leavitt (D) and Dan Bronoske (D) also look to be favored in the general election.
Representative Kristine Reeves (D)District 30: Reeves appears to have this race well in hand along with her running mate Jamila Taylor (D).
Andrea Suarez (D)-District 43: Andrea and Shaun Scott will be moving on to the November General election here. This is the seat long held by former Speaker of the House Frank Chopp who has chosen not to run for
re-election. Suarez founded the organization We Heart Seattle and aligns with RHAWA on many issues that pertain to rental housing.
Senator Annette Cleveland (D)-District 49: I likely don’t need to remind our readers about Senator Cleaveland’s pivotal role in blocking the Senate rent control bill from moving forward, she continues to be one of the most impactful members of the legislature when it comes to rental housing issues. She faced an incredible amount of vitriol for standing her ground. Despite this, Cleveland has 61% of the vote and looks to be favored in retaining her seat in Clark County.
RHAPAC VOTERS GUIDE: Look forward to an RHA PAC Voters Guide which will be available for your reference very soon. RHA PAC has worked tirelessly observing races that will likely impact our issues and determining which candidates will properly represent the needs of small housing providers. Thank you for always being involved and keeping up to date on the political processes that impact your business.
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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:
