Find the latest summaries and policy updates for all multifamily housing regulations and policies.
The subject of housing affordability is front and center in the national conversation. The causes of rising housing costs and available and effective solutions are just now getting their much-deserved spotlight. Congressman Denny Heck from Washington’s 10th District made his viewpoint very... Continue Reading
The Seattle City Council recently amended a 2015 law requiring notice to the Seattle Office of Housing and Seattle Housing Authority of the owner's intent to sell multifamily property. The law takes effect September 1, 2019, and applies to properties located within the City of Seattle only. ... Continue Reading
As published in Rental Housing Journal's May 2019 On-Site Who Wants Affordable Housing? Apparently, not Oregon. Oregon’s horrendous newly adopted statewide rent control law has opened Pandora’s box. It threatens real... Continue Reading
The Seattle Office of Housing published the 2019 maximum income and rent schedules for the various income-restricted housing programs operating within the City of Seattle limits. Schedules for the various programs can be found here. For participants in the Multi-Family Tax Exemption (MFTE)... Continue Reading
On April 24, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) published the 2019 Median Income schedules which set limits for certain housing assistance programs in the country. For Washington, "Median Income" increased 6.4% from $81,100 to $86,300 per year. HUD has published... Continue Reading
Wednesday, April 17, marks the final day the legislature may consider a proposal from the opposite house. The remaining time is devoted to concurrence votes (more below) and items that are necessary to implement the budget (taxes). Last week was busy for the legislature, passing a number of... Continue Reading
The Democratic Party may have the majority in both chambers of the Washington State Legislature, but their proposed Biennium Operating Budgets couldn’t be more different. Now the question has been raised: are we going into a special session? The main difference between the two budgets?... Continue Reading
March 13 marks the last day the house of origin (the House of Representatives or Senate) may consider any bill introduced in the respective chamber in the 2019 legislative session, with exceptions. Generally speaking, if a bill has not been voted on by the full chamber of origin, it is considered... Continue Reading
Those of us who are old enough remember the famous Schoolhouse Rock animation of “I’m Just A Bill”. That video certainly motivated young children to ask their parents or teachers questions about how a bill becomes law. That civics lesson would be an important and timely lesson... Continue Reading
Friday, February 22 marked the first policy cut off in the State Legislature. Any policy that was not voted out of its committee of origin is considered dead for this session. However, any proposal that was voted out of its committee of origin will receive further consideration in one of two... Continue Reading
Beginning Friday, February 1, new landlord-tenant laws take effect for properties in the City of Tacoma only. Jump to Information required at the initiation of the tenancy, and Information and notice requirements to terminate a tenancy. A copy of the ordinance can be found here. First, all... Continue Reading
As the government shutdown continues to drag on into the second month, there is a lot of media attention directed at the government's ability to continue funding housing programs. Particularly of interest is Project-Based Section 8 and Tenant-Based Section 8 for federal employees who continue to... Continue Reading
