SEATTLE — The Seattle City Council voted Tuesday to cap late rent fees as part of an effort to control rising housing prices in the city.
Last month, Councilmember Kshawma Sawant sponsored legislation that would cap the fees at $10 monthly.
Then, at an April 7 meeting, councilmembers Sara Nelson, Debora Suarez, and Andrew Lewis voted to raise the cap to $50 or 1.5% of a tenant’s rent.
On Tuesday, councilmembers Tammy Morales and Teresa Mosequeda joined Sawant in bringing forward an amendment to restore the cap to $10 per month.
“If a household is already having trouble paying their rent on time, adding large late fees on top only exacerbates their ability to pay, increases housing instability, and could increase the chance for more folks to fall deeper into debt or into homelessness,” said Mosqueda in a news release.
The council approved the bill with a 7-2 vote, with Councilmembers Nelson and Alex Pedersen voting against it.
“Capping late fees at $10 is the bare minimum that the city can do for renters who are facing financial hardship,” said Morales. “We know that wages are not rising at the same rate as the cost of housing. Being late on rent shouldn’t put people further in debt, and it should not jeopardize people’s ability to remain housed.”
Seattle now joins Auburn and Burien among the cities which have implemented the $10 per month cap.
©2023 Cox Media Group
