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First in the nation Renters’ Commission trying to pick up the pieces from pandemic including Seattle’s inspection backlog

(Image: CHS)

By Elizabeth Turnbull

Five years after Seattle became the first city in the nation to create a Renters’ Commission, the group of appointees and volunteers is focused on sifting through a pandemic world and addressing needs like securing funding to address a backlog of inspections in Seattle

“Renters have faced [many challenges] with losing jobs and being backed up on rent, and then having the moratorium, you know sweating that every time, not knowing if it was going to be extended or not,” Mac Scotty McGregor, a co-chair of the commission, said. “I know some people want to act like it’s over with, but it’s not.”

Since 2020, and the beginning of the global health crisis, McGregor and others on the commission saw apartment inspections put on hold while residents were also forced to spend more time at home.

The delays have poked even more holes in the inspection process already criticized for giving landlords too much time to hide or gloss over reported problems. With property owners avoiding fines as long as they eventually fix any identified problems, it can pay for landlords to wait the problem out.

At the same time, the city has struggled to respond to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) complaints as the Office of Civil Rights, which handles these requests, has dealt with staffing shortages.

Currently the Renter’s Commission is advocating for more funding for the Office of Civil Rights as well as for more funding for inspectors.

The commission itself is made up of fifteen renters, most appointed by the city government.

Since its inception five years ago, the commission has pushed for a variety of changes such as successful legislation to limit the cost of move-in fees, pushing for the repeal of the statewide rent control ban, eviction forgiveness, and other issues.

As a commission, the group brings insight and recommendations to the mayor and city council and relies on these relationships to remain effective.

For the most part, the relationships have been positive, McGregor, who has been on the commission for the past two and a half years, said. Mayor Bruce Harrell, however, has not yet met with the group.

“We’re definitely sending out an invitation for him to come talk to the commission,” McGregor said.

Amid public health concerns, housing remains a prescient and likely long standing issue in the city even after the pandemic wanes. Compared to this time last year, rents prices have increased by close to 19%, and medium rent rates for a one-bedroom apartment are at $1,681 and at $2,097 for a two-bedroom apartment, according to Apartment List’s most recent report.

While City Councilmember Kshama Sawant has pushed for rent control measures, state laws still make this effort impossible for the time being, and many have proposed unique solutions to rising costs in living.

Currently, the City Council is working to react to a Washington State Court of Appeals decision striking down Seattle’s “Eviction Defense for Renters,” a policy designed to provide renters with a six-month cushion after the lifting of COVID-19 eviction restrictions. While officials scramble for additional ways to protect renters from eviction as the city emerges from years of COVID-19 restrictions, many tenants are once again worried they’ll be left hanging.

As issues surrounding rent continue, McGregor and others on the commission hope that other renters will become more involved.

“We would love more renters to participate by showing up at our monthly meetings,” McGregor said. “We’d love to hear from people more about the issues they’re dealing with and concerned about.”

Learn more about the Seattle Renters’ Commission at seattle.gov.

 

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3 Comments
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Glenn
Glenn
2 years ago

Picture, for a moment, a Landlord’s Commission embedded in the Council. Perhaps you might more easily fathom a Homeowner’s Commission? Having trouble with both? Well, that might be because it is highly unusual to place such a one sided lobbying and policymaking entity within a legislative body. And it explains Council’s relentless attack upon housing providers over these last five years.

HTS3
HTS3
2 years ago
Reply to  Glenn

“A 2018 survey of 4000 Seattle landlords showed that most own or manage a small number of units, and more than half of them rely on rental property as a way to supplement their primary income or support their retirement. Fifty-eight percent of Seattle landlords make less than $75,000 a year, with about 30 percent earning $50,000 or less.”

Does that change anyone’s mind even a little about just who these housing providers are? Of course, people being people, there are some bad ones out there, but it seems like a lot of them just happen to be small business owners that happen to be in the rental business.

Tom
Tom
2 years ago
Reply to  Glenn

Imagine making money as a renter. You found a loophole in your lease, and you can actually start renting to people after 15 years of paying rent. You hear complaints from the renters; but, hey, you’re on your way to retirement.
One day, these renters make contact with the owners, and stir up a response.

There’s simply no comparing a group representing housing seeking (expenses,)
And housing offering (income.)