On the last day of session -- sine die -- the House and Senate both passed the final version of the rent stabilization bill! While not everything we wanted, this will provide predictability and protection from rent gouging for tenants all across Washington. Passage of this bill represents an important step forward, toward housing justice, and gives us a strong foundation to further improve tenant protections in the future.

It couldn't have happened without many thousands of people -- impacted tenants, supportive landlords, unions, and many, many allies -- speaking up over and over.

The legislature is also poised to send an Operating Budget to the Governor that includes critical and sizable investments in homelessness services, and a Capital Budget that has a historic investment of over $605 million for affordable homes plus additional funding for youth shelter and more. Now is the time to thank lawmakers for passing rent stabilization and making these important budget investments. All of these victories are the result of tremendous work by lawmaker champions, and they greatly deserve a thank you:

The last step for rent stabilization is the Governor's signature.

Individual advocates can ask the Governor to sign the full bill at his webpage. You can share your personal reason for supporting this bill or just send a simple message like: Please fully sign the rent stabilization bill, house bill 1217! This bill will provide predictability and protection from rent gouging for tenants and homeowners across Washington and prevent homelessness.

Contact Governor Ferguson here: https://governor.wa.gov/contacting-governor/contacting-governors-office/send-gov-ferguson-e-message

The final rent stabilization bill passed by the legislature on Sunday, April 27:  

• Caps rent increases for manufactured homeowners at 5% per year;
• Caps residential rent increases at 7% plus the Consumer Price Index (CPI) or 10% per year, whichever is lower;
• Covers apartments and single-family homes; with some exceptions (including subsidized housing owned by nonprofits or public housing authorities; homes developed with low-income Housing Tax Credits regulated by the Washington State Housing Finance Commission, and duplexes through fourplexes when the owner lives on site);
• Exempts newly-built homes for the first 12 years;
• Ends the caps for residential tenants after 15 years. The manufactured housing cap does not expire.

The agreed upon capital budget includes $605 million for the Housing Trust Fund, plus an additional $9 million for youth and young adult projects.

The agreed upon operating budget fills the gap in homelessness services created by the shortfall in document recording fee revenue, and increases funding for right to counsel, fully funds the Housing and Essential Needs rental assistance program, funds operations for permanent supportive housing, and more!

In an extraordinarily difficult budget year, this is an outcome to celebrate!

We'll provide a more thorough analysis of the budget in the near future. For now, please join us in celebrating this progress, and thanking lawmakers for their hard work over the last 105 days of this long session!

In community,

Rachael Myers (she/her)  
Executive Director