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Rental Housing Association of WA GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
State Court of Appeals Rules in RHAWA’s Favor Alex Robertson | Policy Analyst | arobertson@RHAwa.org | (206) 905-0611
funded by our Legal Defense Fund, or LDF. The LDF is 100% funded by member donations, and determines the extent to which we can challenge these devastating laws. You can donate to the LDF here: RHAwa.org/products/donations. In other LDF news, we have upcoming oral arguments in our lawsuit against the fair chance housing regulations. This case has been ongoing for a long time now and we are getting closer and closer to its resolution. These longer, drawn out fights take more time, effort and resources from the LDF. We have seen much success from our LDF and we want to see that continue. Now more than ever we need your support. The LDF not only challenges the legality of laws that have been enacted, it lets us have more robust arguments for active policy discussions. The LDF recently funded the acquisition of a legal At the beginning of covid, 126075) deprives the landthe City of Seattle passed a lords of their property inter6 month post moratorium est without due process by eviction ban and a winter not affording them the opeviction ban. RHAWA chalportunity to test the veraclenged the legality of both ity of a tenant’s self-certifiof these ordinances. After a cation of financial hardship. long and arduous court proWe invalidate it on that cess, the Washington State ground only. We otherwise Court of Appeals ruled, in uphold the ordinances and a published opinion, that affirm the judgment for the Alex Robertson the 6 month post moratoriCity.” um was invalid. They ruled that based on the fact that the ban only required a For those of you that would like to read self-certification by the tenant and was the entire published opinion, you can unchallengeable by the housing prodo so here: https://assets.noviams.com/ vider, the violates a housing providers novi-file-uploads/rhawa/2022_03_21_ right to procedural due processes, and Published_Opinion_RHAWA_v__Sethe court agreed. The court also ruled attle.pdf that the ban on interest accruing for unpaid rent was preempted by state law This is not set in stone just yet, both we and was also invalid. and the City have until late April to file a Motion to Reconsider, which would Here is the exact language located in keep this case active. As of writing this the conclusion on page 37 and 38: the City has not filed a Motion to Reconsider, and we have not received any “We hold that Ordinance 126081’s proindication of their intent. If they do file hibition on the accrual of interest on the motion, we will continue to fight unpaid rent is preempted under state the ordinances. In order to continue law and is therefore invalid. We further this fight, fight other laws, and obtain hold that the defense to eviction conlegal opinions on policy proposals we tained in SMC 22.205.090 (Ordinance need your help. All of these actions are
opinion on the newest Seattle proposal. The ordinance that would require housing providers to disclose their lease length, vacancy status and rent rolls. The fight doesn’t end when a bill is passed, that’s what we believe. Join us in the fight against these burdensome and onerous regulations by donating to the LDF.
Lasting Peace and Happiness– Almost everyone is searching for it, but few know where to find it. Tom Cain has been on a spiritual journey for nearly forty years. He had a Spiritual Awakening in 2003. As a firewalking instructor he guided people across burning coals in their bare feet without getting burned. Today, he acts as a guide for those seeking lasting peace, happiness and meaning in their lives. • • • •
Apartment brokerage and/or research companies: Cain and Scott, Inc. (Co-founded 1977) Cain Inc. (Founded 2005) Apartment Insights Washington, LLC (Co-founded 2005)
In recognition of Tom’s contributions to the apartment industry, The Seattle Times Real Estate Editor wrote on January 13, 2018: “For more than a decade, The Seattle Times, other media organizations, and official sources like city governments have relied on two competing landlord survey groups for information on the local rental market: Apartment Insights Washington, and Dupre + Scott. The Times has cited those firms’ data in more than 100 stories in the past ten years.” For a free exploratory ZOOM session, go to TomCain.com
