Sheesh. Owners and Renters Still in Limbo...?

"I'm fed up with these Washington landlord-tenant laws. There are no protections for property owners!..."

I talk to dozens of homeowners every day, and I can tell you that tenant problems are in the “Top 3” reasons that keep people from being able to sell their homes...especially these days!

So let’s talk about it.

You probably know by now that through July, laws have been put into place to protect renters from being evicted for not paying rent.

Well now it is finally August, so that means Washington State renters are expected to pay their first full month’s rent in what has been over one year now, come September.

If they’re unable to pay rent for the month of August, the proper steps must be taken before landlords can proceed with eviction for nonpayment of rent.

Washington State Governor Jay Inslee has rolled out what he has called the “bridge proclamation”, which is meant to “ensure that renters and landlords have the opportunity to receive support and resources that are available to them.”

Inslee said during a press conference at the state Capitol:

“As we all know, COVID-19 has had a significant economic impact on our state and a lot of Washingtonians are still experiencing financial hardships. That is why I put an eviction moratorium in place last year,” …“These are all reasonable steps and will help ensure that renters and landlords have the opportunity to receive support and resources that are available to them.”

What About the Back-Rent Landlords are Owed?

When it comes to the back-rent that landlords are owed, landlords and tenants need to know, that the bridge proclamation prohibits eviction “for any missed rent payments between Feb. 29, 2020 and July 31, 2021, until there are operational rental assistance and eviction resolution programs in place in the county where the tenant lives”

Landlords Here is What it Means for You

That means you have to offer your tenants a “reasonable” repayment plan before beginning the eviction process in addition to providing them, in writing, the services and support available.

Tenants Here is What it Means for You

This means that you have to act in order to avoid eviction. There are attorneys and other recourses available free of charge.

Your landlord is REQUIRED to make arrangements with you to settle what you owe.

Millions of Dollars in Aid Available

With millions of dollars to be made available for rental assistance programs, I encourage renters and landlords in Federal Way and the Greater Seattle area to save themselves the stress and headache by taking advantage.

As mentioned above, rent payments for August and beyond should be expected either in full or in an agreed-upon lesser amount.

Otherwise, renters must actively seek rental assistance funding or move out.

Landlords may evict a tenant if none of those actions are taken.

Thankfully, there are already eviction resolution programs in place in King, Pierce, Thurston, Spokane, Clark, and Snohomish counties.

Who Wins in This Scary Game of Dominos?

Some of the largest companies in the Greater Seattle area have now required employees to be vaccinated if they want to return to work.

Mask requirements have returned in many businesses, especially around the Federal Way area.

Vaccines will soon be required in some states – you will have to be vaccinated in order to go inside restaurants, bars, movie theaters in states like New York.

I say all that just to reiterate what you already know:

The past year or so has shown us that restricting how businesses can operate, sparks a wild domino effect that impacts ALL of our day-to-day lives, in one way or another.

For example, when businesses slow down or close their doors because the government says something like “ you can only serve vaccinated people”, this results in lower revenue for that business.

• Lower revenue results in employees being laid off.
• When people lose their jobs, they’re unable to pay their rent.
• When people are unable to pay their rent, many landlords are unable to pay their mortgages.

And these are just a few of the dominos… but trust me they keep falling from there!

[In Closing] One Thing I Don't Get

One thing I don’t get is how we can expect to move forward with this rental issue if we can’t ensure the stability of the job market... because obviously, jobs are how most people pay rent.

If vaccinations become mandatory, I think we will see a Seattle area similar to the one we lived through last April.

Businesses will slow down, people will be laid off, and in theory we will be right back in the same boat.

I hope I'm wrong. I guess we will all just have to strap in, wait, and see.

If you are a landlord/renter in the Federal Way or Greater Seattle area, I want to help you if you need it.

Through the end of this month, I'm extending an exclusive invite to all renters and property owners who need guidance on what their next steps should be.

Follow the link to schedule a complimentary 30-minute meeting to have your most important questions answered by a licensed real estate professional. Meet virtually, over the phone, or in person.

Absolutely no purchase is necessary to take advantage of these helpful services.