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Affordable Housing Week is this week (May 16th-22). Demand for housing has never been higher than it is now. More than 38 million individuals live in a rental home across the country, and 42 percent of those that do rent call an apartment their home. Apartments provide housing, create jobs and... Continue Reading
NMHC released it's Top 50 Apartment Owners list for 2016! Congratulations to the WMFHA members who made the list! #6 - Equity Residential#10 - AvalonBay Communities#16 - Essex Property Trust#21 - Fairfield Residential#22 - UDR#29 - Weidner Apartment Homes#32 - Greystar#42 - Bridge Investment... Continue Reading
NAA/NMHC White Paper on Resident Screening Policies for Ex-Offenders Now Available NAA/NMHC’s new white paper on HUD’s recently-issued guidance on the use of criminal histories in resident screening is now available for NAA members (member login required). The white paper,... Continue Reading
On March 28, 2016, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) published new income limits which determines eligibility for housing assistance programs such as the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8). The income limits published on March 28, 2016, take effect... Continue Reading
HUD recently released 'Guidance' on the application of Fair Housing Standards in a prospective tenant's criminal background screening. The guidance, found here, eliminates blanket exclusions on individuals with a criminal record and limits the use of arrest records in making leasing determinations... Continue Reading
New Law Changes Security Deposit Refund Timing from 14 to 21 Days We are pleased to announce that after many years of advocacy efforts in Olympia, Governor Inslee signed a multi-part landlord-tenant bill on March 29, 2016. While we will provide more information on other provisions of the bill... Continue Reading
Loss Mitigation Trust Fund Account Established to Compensate Landlords for Damage. The legislature recently passed a Supplemental Budget which includes a $125,000 Loss Mitigation Trust Account. The account is accessible to landlords for damages caused to private market rate apartments by housing... Continue Reading
Senator Cantwell Launches National Campaign to Increase Federal Resources for Affordable Housing U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), joined by Seattle Mayor Ed Murray, Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland, Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson, and a coalition of more than 1,300 national, state, and local... Continue Reading
WMFHA members joined the National Apartment Association for their annual Capitol Conference and Lobby Day inWashington D.C. NAA affiliate members from across the country met to discuss national government affairs issues affecting the housing industry. On the last day of the conference, WMFHA... Continue Reading
State Legislative Report The 2016 regular legislative session ended March 10 without consensus on a supplemental budget. As a result the Governor ordered a 30-day special session and vetoed certain bills which passed the House and Senate. The special session begins immediately to hash out a... Continue Reading
Be a Grassroots Advocate On February 3rd, 40 WMFHA members converged on the Capitol Mall in Olympia to lobby our state legislators for the annual Day on the Hill Legislative Day. Members met with their legislators to educate our lawmakers on issues of importance to the housing industry and to... Continue Reading
APARTMENTS. WE LIVE HERE. In communities across the country, apartments work – helping people live in a home that’s right for them. Apartments and their residents contribute more than $1 trillion to the economy. We all should celebrate the positive impact our industry is making in... Continue Reading
