Seattle’s Mayor chose not to veto a recent legislative action and allowed a moratorium on winter evictions to pass into law. Adam Almeida, President and CEO of TenantScreeningUSA.com opines: “Laws can be enacted in a number of ways and while the passage of the winter eviction moratorium in Seattle is somewhat unusual, landlords and property managers should take note and ensure eviction policies are compliant by working with a well-qualified third-party tenant screening agency, such as TenantScreeningUSA.com.”
Recently Seattle’s mayor allowed a legislative action, governing winter evitions, pass into law without veto, noting her veto would have most likely been overridden by City Council. Adam Almeida, President and CEO of TenantScreeningUSA.com opines: “Seattle has long been a leader in housing related legislative action and the recent ban on winter evictions should make landlords and property managers take notice.”
In Seattle a new law disallowing winter evictions went into effect.
From a posting on Seattle Times webpage (02 25 20; SeattleTimes.com):
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan is allowing the City Council’s moratorium on some residential winter evictions to become law. At the same time, the mayor is proposing that the city spend $200,000 more on eviction prevention services next winter.
Durkan opposed the moratorium pushed by Councilmember Kshama Sawant and could have vetoed the legislation that won unanimous council approval on Feb. 10. But the council could have voted to override her veto.
Instead, the mayor has returned the legislation to the City Clerk without her signature, repeating her concerns but not standing in its way. In a news release Tuesday, Durkan argued her proposal to increase funding for prevention services would do more good. (1)
The law is designed to halt evictions between December 1 and March 1 but there are proponents to the law.
From an op-ed from the Wall Street Journal (02 17 29):
Seattle winters are cool but, as the old joke goes, not cold enough for socialists to stick their hands in their own pockets. The far-left City Council voted last week to prohibit almost all wintertime residential evictions in Seattle, at the expense of poor tenants and property owners.
Under the new ordinance, which passed 7-0, Seattle landlords can almost never evict tenants from December 1 to March 1. The evictions ban applies even if a tenant has habitually failed to pay the rent. And if a renter used or dealt drugs, committed crimes on the premises, or created a public nuisance, a landlord seeking a winter eviction now must prove this activity has “a substantial detrimental impact on, or constitutes an imminent threat to, the health or safety” of other tenants or the property owner. Otherwise, wait until it’s warmer. (2)
Almeida concludes: “Any time a legislative action is pursued that may affect tenant screening, landlords and property managers should take note and work with a well-qualified third-party tenant screening agency in order to remain fully compliant with laws affecting tenant screening.”
TenantScreeningUSA.com provides full-service tenant screening for landlords and property managers of any size and can greatly assist in remaining fully compliant with all existing law governing tenant screening. With a highly trained and experienced staff, TenantScreeningUSA.com can provide help to landlords and property managers with all their tenant screening needs.
Notes:
(1) seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/seattle-mayor-durkan-allows-winter-eviction-ban-to-become-law-proposes-more-funding-for-prevention/
(2) wsj.com/articles/seattles-winter-evictions-ban-11581975695
