Plan to cap how much landlords can raise rent moves ahead in Washington Legislature

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Statewide caps on annual rent increases could take effect in Washington as soon as this year after the state House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a bill aimed at giving tenants financial relief.

House Bill 2114 would prohibit landlords from raising an existing tenant’s rent more than 7% in a year. At the time a rental home turns over to a new tenant, the cap would not apply. The bill would also restrict late fees to 1.5% of a tenant’s total monthly rent.

The proposal has split support in the Legislature, even among majority Democrats. In the House, it passed 54-43. Democratic Reps. Dan Bronoske, of Lakewood; Mike Chapman, of Port Angeles; Mari Leavitt, of University Place; and Amy Walen, of Kirkland, joined Republicans in voting against it. It likely faces an even tougher road in the Senate, where similar legislation fell apart last month.

Opponents say the policy could have unintended consequences on the housing market as a whole and could hurt landlords, some of whom are also struggling to make ends meet. But supporters say the proposal is an essential part of alleviating homelessness and ensuring middle- and low-income renters aren’t driven from their homes by rent spikes.

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2024/02/13/plan-to-cap-how-much-landlords-can-raise-rent-moves-ahead-in-washington-legislature/

[Stargazer99]

1. Captured audience-rent increases are putting even children out of homes and into shelters

greed is a natural effect of dominance and capitalism. Is the landlord more important than other people? Some landlords maybe having financial troubles but why take it out on people who also might be having financial troubles...it doesn't solve the problem by increasing another's pain to solve one's own. Go after the problem instead of tormenting others who maybe having problems also. Or is that concept too reasonable to handle in this system of feeding off each other,