In Washington, disabled veteran and single parent Duana Ricks-Johnson has experienced the challenges of rising rents, moving her family five times in just four years.
She has fought tirelessly for the introduction of a rent control law in the state, but despite intriguing progress, the path forward remains uncertain.
The proposed House Bill 1217 has garnered significant attention, as it edges closer to becoming law.
However, last-minute amendments introduced in the Senate have cast doubt on its fate as the legislative session approaches its conclusion.
The passage of the bill within the Senate included modifications from two lawmakers, which raised the allowable rent increase limit from 7% to 10% plus inflation and notably exempted single-family homes from the regulation.
As the bill advances to the House, a rejection of these Senate adjustments could lead to a conference committee, with a tight deadline of less than two weeks remaining in the session.
If successful, Washington would become one of the first states to implement rent stabilization laws, joining the ranks of Oregon and California, which have adopted similar measures in their efforts to combat the homelessness crisis.
Proponents of the legislation argue that it is necessary to prevent excessive rent hikes that can displace vulnerable residents.
Sen. Emily Alvarado, a Democrat from Seattle and the bill’s author, emphasized the importance of rent stabilization in protecting tenants from being priced out of their homes.
However, the amendments sparked criticism from advocates who argue that they significantly weaken the bill’s effectiveness—especially the exclusion of rent caps for single-family homes, which affects a substantial portion of tenants.
In Washington state, nearly 40% of the population rents, and the implications of this legislation resonate with many residents.
Opposition to HB 1217 stems from concerns regarding potential repercussions for the housing supply.
Sen. Sharon Shewmake, a Democrat who proposed the amendment to boost the rent increase cap, voiced apprehension about developers potentially leaving the state due to stricter rent regulations.
She argued that sustainable increments in housing supply are essential to mitigating rising housing costs.
An overview of the bill reveals that it aims to limit rent increases and fees during the first 12 months of tenancy, demanding landlords provide a 90-day notice before any increases, surpassing the current 60-day requirement.
Should the bill succeed, its regulations would take effect upon passage, with an expiration date set for July 1, 2045.
Manufactured homes would retain an original rent cap allowing a 5% increase.
Michele Thomas, Policy Director at the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance, remains optimistic that lawmakers can reach a compromise.
She noted that they are receiving feedback from thousands of constituents advocating for a stronger version of the bill—one that maintains a maximum 7% increase for residential renters and a 5% increase for manufactured homeowners, while omitting the single-family home exemption.
In 2019, Oregon adopted a rent control measure, which has since been updated to limit rent increases to 7% plus the annual 12-month average change in the consumer price index or 10%, whichever is lower.
Ricks-Johnson, who relocated to Vancouver, Washington, following domestic abuse, shares her personal struggle as a fixed-income individual reliant on her Veterans Affairs pension.
The relentless rise in rent has compelled her family to relocate multiple times, incurring substantial costs each time.
She expressed that without the passing of this bill, the ramifications could be catastrophic for her family.
“If this doesn’t go through,” she stated, “it just puts a whole myriad of things in motion, like a landslide that my little family wouldn’t be able to recover from.”
She raised concerns about the uncertainty of where her family would end up if the legislation fails, emphasizing the necessity of supporting vulnerable individuals within the community to maintain a solid foundation for all.
Dominique Horn, a renter living in Camas, also articulated her fears regarding the potential consequences of rent increases.
Currently paying half of her income on rent, any further hike could jeopardize her family’s stability.
Horn expressed particular concern regarding the Senate’s amendment that eliminated protections for single-family homes, which would exclude a sizable percentage of renters from the bill’s provisions.
Having incurred significant expenses securing housing—over $6,000—Horn recognized how easily an unexpected increase could push families into the vulnerability of homelessness, disrupting vital aspects of everyday life.
“The ability to predict and plan for what kind of increases would be coming is such an important part of having stability in all aspects of your life,” she stated.
Sen. Marko Liias, the Democrat responsible for the amendment exempting single-family homes from the rent cap, has not responded to inquiries for comment.
On the other hand, landlord Kelley Rhinehart, who manages two duplexes in Kitsap County, expressed his support for the bill.
He believes that stable rent contributes to stable tenants, arguing against the notion that the current housing market is heavily regulated.
In closing, he posited that establishing limits on rent through public policy is a necessary step that legislators should be willing to embrace.
image source from：https://apnews.com/article/rent-increase-rent-control-66b8fbc521e895d63c87f47ea0bcc5c1
