2023 Hill Day 

Agenda   Talking Points    Capitol Map  Legislative Appointments

House Members  Senate Members

Talking Ponts

Since WMFHAs priority bills did not advance beyond the legislative cut-off last week (this is good news), we are shifting our Day on the Hill focus on talking points from advocacy to education. WMFHA members should highlight the following three areas in their meetings with lawmakers:

Multi-Family Housing Industry

  • As housing providers, we are a critical part of the solution to our state’s housing crisis
    • Too often, our industry is treated as part of the problem
    • We provide valuable housing for all
    • Our state’s housing deficit cannot be addressed without the multi-family industry
  • It’s impossible for government to address this problem alone – they need the private sector to build needed units
  • Large multi-family projects like those built, operated and managed by WMFHA members, are the quickest and only way to put a large number of units on the ground to address the crisis

Rent Control/Rent Stabilization

  • While HB 1388, HB 1389 and HB 1124 did not advance through the legislative process before last week’s cutoff, our industry did not believe these were the right solutions to our state’s housing crisis
  • Rent stabilization, Rent control, Tenant protections – no matter what you call it, these are not the answer to the problem
  • Rent Control has not worked anywhere it has been adopted
    • San Francisco and New York are two of the most expensive rental markets in the country
    • It impacts ALL renters not just those it is intended to protect
    • Middle- and high-income renters are incentivized to stay in their units rather than upgrade, meaning mobility, low- and middle-income rental units don’t open up, leaving the most vulnerable out of the market
  • Washington State has a housing supply issue
    • We need over 1,000,000 new housing units by 2045
    • Rent Control dis-incentives new construction and encourages attrition through small landlords selling and leaving the market
    • Ultimately, these units, once sold, will become more expensive rental units or owned homes for higher earning households
  • When St. Paul, Minnesota passed rent control, multifamily permits went from 1,400 the previous year to just 200
    • One project with over 1,000 units, stopped the permitting process and will not be pursued

Solutions

  • Increased supply is the only solution to Washington’s housing crisis
  • WMFHA and the multifamily housing industry wants to be part of the solution
  • We have and continue to support policies that encourage housing creation, even those that do not benefit our industry or that will provide competition to our industry
  • We worked to find a compromise on HB 1124 and are willing to continue conversations with stakeholders and bill sponsors during the interim
  • Suggested a workgroup of all stakeholders to have open, tough and honest conversations about updating Residential Landlord Tenant Act (RLTA) to address problems with the understanding that everyone must be willing to give a little to find compromise
  • Ask that we, as housing providers, be included in discussions regarding policies impacting our industry, prior to session, so we may offer experience and knowledge
    • We want to avoid having to oppose legislation due to a lack of inclusion and engagement