Title
Follow-up Discussion: Just Cause and Vacate Notice Extensions for Rental Housing
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Discuss the draft Just Cause and Vacate Notice Extensions for Rental Housing.
Report
Issue:
Whether to discuss the draft Vacate Notice Extensions for Rental Housing discussed at the April Land Use and Environment Committee meeting.
Staff Contact:
Cary Retlin, Home Fund Manager, Community Planning & Development, 360.570.3956.
Presenter(s):
Cary Retlin, Home Fund Manager
Background and Analysis:
Land Use and Environment Committee has had numerous meetings related to potential code amendments that could help make rental housing more stable for tenants. At the April Land Use and Environment Committee meeting staff was asked to bring draft code recommendations related to just cause and notice extensions.
In the last two years, the Washington State Legislature has also updated the state Residential Landlord Tenant Act - but just cause and notice provisions, included in this staff proposal, were not included. Staff will update the committee on some of those recent changes during their presentation.
What is Just Cause?
Just cause ordinances prevent property owners or managers from ending rental agreements with tenants, except for specific reasons. If this draft ordinance were to take effect, rental agreements could only be terminated for the specified reasons listed in the ordinance - and many of those terminations would include time notices that extend past the current requirements of the state Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (59.18 RCW).
Just Cause in Other Cities
Many cities have passed various renter protections. Cities that have enacted code to specify just causes for termination of tenancy include Bellingham, Federal Way, Burien and Seattle. Seattle's first just cause ordinances were passed in 1980.
Draft Just Cause and Notice Extensions in Olympia Unfair Housin...
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