MORE RENTAL REGULATION – AN UPDATE

Governor Inslee extended and expanded the ban on evictions. The new order is extended through June 4, 2020 and includes a freeze on rents.

Additional measures in the proclamation include:

1. Landlords may not serve 14-day pay or vacate notices or 10-day notices for violations of lease terms.
2. Rent increases are banned in all residential properties. 
3. Rent increases are banned in commercial rents if the tenant has been impacted by the coronavirus.
4. Evictions are banned in all residential properties, including motels and vacation rentals, public campgrounds and leased mobile-home lots.
5. Landlords cannot charge rent where a tenant’s access was prevented by COVID-19; this includes seasonal and college housing.
6. Landlords are prohibited from charging late fees, retroactive to February 29, 2020, for rent not paid during the ban.
7. Landlords must offer tenants a “reasonable payment plan” before any past rent or other charges may be collected which came due on or after February 29, 2020, the date a State of Emergency was declared in Washington.
8. Law enforcement is prohibited from serving or threatening to serve physical eviction orders.

Violators of this of this order may be subject to criminal penalties.

The proclamation ended with Governor Inslee urging tenants to pay rent: “I strongly encourage every tenant to pay what they can, as soon as they can, to help support the landlords, property owners, and property managers who are supporting them through this crisis.”

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.