Title
Approval of an Ordinance Amending Olympia Municipal Code Related to Relocation Assistance and Additional Renter Protections
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
The Land Use & Environment Committee recommends approval of the Ordinance amending OMC 5.82 related to relocation assistance and additional renter protections.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve the Ordinance amending OMC 5.82 related to relocation assistance and additional renter protections.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve the Ordinance amending OMC 5.82 related to relocation assistance and additional renter protections.
Staff Contact:
Christa Lenssen, Senior Housing Program Specialist, Office of Community Vitality, 360.570.3762
Presenter(s):
Christa Lenssen, Senior Housing Program Specialist, Office of Community Vitality
Background and Analysis:
There are changes to the Ordinance between first and second reading.
At the first reading, the City Council directed staff to make the following amendments to the ordinance for the second reading:
* Broaden the definition of 'immediate family member' to include aunt, uncle, and family by adoption;
* Increase the timeline for breaking a lease upon notice of a rent increase of 5% or more from 20 days to 30 days;
* Add a requirement for landlords to provide tenants, at the time of lease signing, a letter written by the City that identifies the rights of renters and who to contact, if they feel those rights have been violated;
* Adjust the threshold for economic displacement relocation assistance. Previously proposed code language required landlords to pay two months' worth of relocation assistance if the rent is increased by more than 5% but less than 10%, and to pay three months' worth of relocation assistance if the rent is increased by 10% or more. Council directed staff to adjust the threshold and amount of relocation assistance. Updated code language requires landlords to pay tenant relocation assistance if the rent is increa...
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