With some tenants unable to pay rent, small landlords ask for help

Unemployment is continuing to grow during this pandemic, and people are struggling to pay their bills.

The challenges have some tenants calling for a rent strike, but small landlords say they’re also fighting to survive.

Washington State has an eviction freeze until June 4, but some tenants unable to pay rent worry they’ll be kicked out of their homes as soon as it’s over.

It has signs like “rent moratorium now” showing up all over Seattle.

“We rely on our rents to support ourselves at this point in our lives. It pays for our health insurance, it pays for our groceries,” said Leslie H, a Seattle landlord on a Zoom meeting Tuesday afternoon. Several dozen landlords met on the call to discuss their concerns.

Mom and pop landlords say are struggling.

“As their savings drain, as our savings drain,” said MariLyn Yim, another landlord in the area.

Many said they’re already trying to help their tenants as much as possible. Some are working with tenants on delayed payment plans.

“We’ve given deep discounts on a one-time basis to several of our vulnerable tenants, but we can't bear that for very long,” Leslie said.

Dozens of small landlords voiced their concerns on after tenants protested in their cars over the weekend at Northgate, demanding rent cancellations. They held up signs that said things like like, “If we can’t work, we can’t pay!”

Plus, now there’s a Seattle Facebook group called “Rent and Mortgage Strike Washington.”

“If we are really all in this together, why are landlords being vilified and forced to bear all of the burden?” said Jeffery Cook, another landlord.

City leaders from across the state say they are hearing everyone's concerns.

“Look, we understand,” said Tammy Morales, a Seattle City council member during a Zoom meeting Tuesday morning. She and other city leaders from across the state were meeting to discuss the issue.

They're calling for the Washington State Legislature to hold an emergency session on June 1 to deal with the rent and mortgage crisis, saying it's something cities can't handle alone.

“Cities are not capable of provide rent relief for landlords,” said Daniel Hammill, a council member for the city of Bellingham. He said he and his wife are both landlords too.

Washington State congresswoman, Pramila Jayapal, introduced a bill this month to cancel all rent and mortgage payments during the COVID-19 pandemic and forgive the payments with no debt.

The group Washington city leaders, from Burien to Bellingham to Spokane, say it’s a bill Congress needs to pass.

“If we don't take action now, our communities will be devastated. Will go sick, or go hungry, or lose homes. And some will even die,” Morales said.

The group of city leaders is six month freeze on rent increases and for permanent rent control policies to be put in place.

Landlords say mortgage freezes would help, but they still rely on rent income for other expenses, like emergency repairs, maintenance and insurance.

Many of the small landlords said they will be at a Seattle City Council meeting on Monday (5/04) where council members will be discussing the issue again.

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