SEATTLE — The Seattle City Council unanimously voted to revise the tenant relocation assistance ordinance Monday, in attempts to address situations where landlords try to avoid paying fees to low-income tenants.
Since 2012, the ordinance has helped 618 families. The intent was to help low-income tenants find a new place to live, in situations where existing landlords have plans to remodel the building. In many cases, the major rehabilitation work has been done to charge higher rents.
Families making 50 percent of area median income or less are eligible to receive $3,225 to move. Half the money comes from the landlord, while the other half comes from the city.
But council members said they sometimes hear of landlords who avoid this fee by raising rents first, in efforts to encourage tenants to leave. Then rehabilitation work on the building happens afterward.
“The attempt of this bill is to close a loophole,” said Councilmember Mike O’Brien. “Most of the landlords know the rules and play by the rules, but certainly some are not doing that.”
The revision does not change the amount given to each family.
But it does specifically define rehabilitation projects as any work being done to a unit that costs more than $6,000.
Through an amendment made by Council President Time Burgess and Councilmember Nick Licata, tenants who receive a 10 percent rent increase or more within a year, can file a complaint to the city if they suspect that increase was done in efforts to avoid the relocation fee.
The amendment was made after Licata said he had noticed some tenants receiving rent increases just under 10 percent, and then receiving another increase shortly thereafter.
Those found in violation would face penalties, including the possibility of not getting a permit for the renovation work until the relocation fee is paid.
Last week, tenants in a South Seattle apartment complex sought help from city leaders when they saw their rents double, even though they still faced rodent infestations, broken fixtures and lack of heat.
Councilmember Kshama Sawant said she saw one of the tenants’ lease agreements: “This lease has a duration of literally nine days. And it contains an addendum – that the tenant signs it and it says – I acknowledge that I will not be eligible to receive relocation assistance.”
Those tenants told KIRO 7 they suspect the new building owner wants to make major improvements to the complex in order to rent it out at higher rates.