Renters

Washington State Capitol dome at dusk

State Senate Taps Bateman for Housing Chair in Major Committee Shakeup

Big changes are coming to the Washington State Senate in 2025, including the elevation of incoming Senator Jessica Bateman to a high profile post as head of the Housing Committee, a symbol of the continued salience of the issue.

Louisa Hotel Tenants Speak Out, Calling Councilmember Woo ‘Slumlord’

Tanya Woo has brandished her affordable housing credentials as owner of the Louisa Hotel in Chinatown. However, some of her tenants portray her as a 'slumlord' based on the practices of building management, including frequently pressuring eviction and letting issues like a broken elevator go long unresolved.
Tenants hold signs saying "hold bad landlords accountable" and "everyone deserves dignified housing" and "SROC stands against abusive landlords" and "workers rights = renters' rights"

Harrell Proposes Deep Cuts for Tenant Assistance, Advocates Push Back

Housing advocates are pushing back after Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell proposed $1.8 million in cuts to rental assistance and tenant services next year. They hope city council will restore the funding, or even double it.
A Stay Housed rally with a "Housing is the Cure" banner at Seattle City Hall with a crowd of about 50.

Op-Ed: Seattle Council Should Double Rental Assistance, Not Slash It

To prevent homelessness and improve housing stability, Seattle City Council should not cut funding for Tenant Services and Rental Assistance as Mayor Bruce Harrell proposes, and instead double it.
A view of the downtown Seattle skyline from a Capitol Hill rooftop

Policy Lab: Ban Algorithmic Rental Price-Setting

At least half of Seattle's apartments are priced using algorithms like RealPage, which is facing a federal lawsuit for illegal price fixing. The Seattle City Council should ban such algorithms, Katie Wilson argues.
A tall red residential building with balconies.

Landlords Face Price Fixing Lawsuit, but Advocates Are Looking for More

RealPage is facing a federal lawsuit alleging its price-fixing algorithm illegally set thousands upon thousands of rents nationwide. Tenant advocates are seeking deeper solutions, in addition to banning this practice.

Zahilay Proposes Billion-Dollar Bond for Social Housing

King County Councilmember Girmay Zahilay rolled out the Regional Workforce Housing Initiative this week, aiming to use bonding to boost family-sized workforce housing construction. Colleagues were largely supportive, but warned the devil was in the details.
An rooftop view of rows of midrise apartments in South Lake Union with Capitol Hill in the distance.

Policy Lab: Cracking Down on Rental “Junk Fees”

President Biden has called out junk fees, but local landlords continue to charge them. Here's what Seattle and other cities can do to address them.