Seattle’s “Fair Chance Ordinance” goes into effect on February 19, 2018. This ordinance prohibits Seattle landlords from considering criminal history when screening a prospective tenant. The only applicants who may be denied rental housing will be those listed on sex-offender registries because of adult convictions, and landlords denying housing to such people will still need to demonstrate a legitimate business reason for doing so.
Civil penalties for violations of this ordinance shall not exceed $11,000 for the first offense, $27,500 for second and $55,000 for the third in a seven-year period. Tenants will have up to a year to file a complaint.
We are here to help you and your clients with all aspects of the rental market. Please contact us for further assistance!
Nothing found herein should be construed as an attempt to offer or render a legal opinion or otherwise engage in the practice of law. You should not rely solely on this information. We encourage our clients to work with a lawyer experienced in commercial and/or residential real estate matters as they can be complicated and confusing.
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