Blog

Biden Announces Plan to Limit Rents Nationwide, NAA Responds

President Biden called on Congress to pass legislation forcing landlords with over 50 units in their portfolio to cap rent increases on existing units at 5% or risk losing federal tax breaks (faster depreciation write-offs). This would affect over 20 million units in the U.S. Rent control has... Continue Reading

Tapas, Topics and Politicos

We had the pleasure of hosting elected officials at both of our Tapas and Topics events this month. In Everett, we welcomed Mayor Cassie Franklin, who updated attendees on the impressive growth Everett has seen in recent years, as well as some exciting things coming up in the near future. On the... Continue Reading

NAA Advocacy Academy Selects Two WMFHA Members

Advocacy is a team sport. Like any team sport, success requires good coaching and advanced training that aims to develop a diverse and deep team bench with the knowledge, capabilities, and team fluidity needed to perform on game day. That’s where NAA’s Advocacy Academy comes into the... Continue Reading

Primary Colors - Endorsements Announced

One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish. The WMFHA Board of Directors recently voted to endorse two candidates for the state legislature: Senator Annette Cleveland for Senate in District 49 and Jim Henderson for House in District 26. Senator Annette Cleveland is a pragmatic legislator who does... Continue Reading

Housing Providers Finally Given a Voice at Seattle City Council

On Wednesday July 10, the Seattle Housing and Human Services Committee, chaired by Councilmember Cathy Moore heard from housing providers about the difficulties they are currently experiencing. After open public testimony, mostly by housing providers with a few tenant advocates, a select panel of... Continue Reading

WMFHA Feels The Love at Apartmentalize

“Feel The Love”…that was the theme of this year’s National Apartment Association’s annual Apartmentalize conference hosted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania the third week of June. The theme seemed appropriate, not just because it was held in the city of brotherly (and... Continue Reading

Emerging Leader Hannah Smith Attends Apartmentalize

Hannah Smith is a Senior Property Manager with Pillar Properties and is a part of WMFHA's Kari Anderson Emerging Leaders first year cohort. Hannah had the opportunity to attend the National Apartment Association's Apartmentalize Conference in June, so we asked her to share a bit of her... Continue Reading

Spokane Ordinance Guarantees "Right to Air Conditioning"

Spokane landlords will no longer have the authority to prohibit tenants from installing air conditioners following a unanimous vote by the Spokane City Council on Monday. The ordinance, introduced by Councilwoman Kitty Klitzke in May, goes into effect in mid-July, coinciding with the anticipated... Continue Reading

King County Makes Rule Change to Address Behavior Issues

On Wednesday, May 29, the King County Superior Court adopted an emergency amendment, effective immediately, to LCR 40.1(b)(1)(L), for unlawful detainer actions where noncompliance by the defendant is alleged to... Continue Reading

Virtual Legal Symposium - Another Success

From May 21-23, WMFHA staff, members and colleagues gathered for the Virtual Legal Symposium. This event is an annual education opportunity that highlights best practices in the legal area of our industry. From the unlawful detainer process to tenant screening, legal notices to tenant... Continue Reading

Court of Appeals Opinion May Affect Stipulated Agreements

On Wednesday, June 12, Division II of the Washington Court of Appeals published an opinion that will affect stipulated landlord/tenant agreements in Division II, Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Kitsap, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, Skamania, Thurston, and Wahkiakum... Continue Reading

Business Community Hosts Tanya Woo Reception

On June 6, prominent leaders in the Seattle business community gathered at the AGC building in South Lake Union for a reception to meet and support Seattle City Council member Tanya Woo. As an at-large member, representing all of Seattle, CM Woo is an important part of the new council majority... Continue Reading