Washington state lawmakers are once again debating a bill that would cap annual rent increases for tenants at 7%, aiming to provide relief to renters grappling with rising housing costs.
Why It Matters
A recent survey by the U.S. Census Bureau revealed that nearly 280,000 Washington renters — about 15% of the state's rental population — experienced rent hikes of $250 or more per month over the past year. This translates to an additional $3,000 annually for those tenants.
Moreover, an October report from the Washington Center for Real Estate Research at the University of Washington found that nearly half of renter households in the state spend over 30% of their income on housing, classifying them as highly cost-burdened.
Details of the Proposal
House Bill 1217 seeks to prevent landlords from increasing rents for existing tenants by more than 7% within a 12-month period. However, the bill permits larger rent hikes when a tenant moves out and a new one moves in, distinguishing it from traditional rent control measures.
Exemptions from the cap include:
Newly constructed units (built within the past 10 years).
Public affordable housing developments.
Some owner-occupied units, such as duplexes where the owner resides in one unit.
Supporters’ View
State Representative Emily Alvarado (D-Seattle), the bill’s lead sponsor, emphasized the need for immediate protections for tenants. “We need common sense guardrails that are in place to make sure that landlords don’t price gouge, and Washingtonians don’t get hurt,” Alvarado said during a public hearing. She argued that waiting for increased housing supply to stabilize rents doesn’t address the urgent challenges renters face today.
Opposition’s Concerns
Opponents, including the Association of Washington Business and the Washington Realtors, contend that the bill could backfire by discouraging investments in housing development and worsening the state’s housing shortage. Morgan Irwin, a former Republican lawmaker and current lobbyist for the Association of Washington Business, stated, “We need supply. We think this bill won’t do that — we think it will have the opposite effect.”
Legislative Context
A similar proposal passed the state House last year but failed to advance in the Senate. However, Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen (D-Seattle) expressed optimism about its prospects this session, particularly if combined with initiatives to boost housing production.
Public support appears strong, with a Cascade PBS/Elway Poll of 403 registered Washington voters showing 68% favoring limits on annual rent increases.
Next Steps
House Speaker Laurie Jinkins has indicated that House leaders plan to pass the bill again this year. Should it advance to the Senate, Pedersen anticipates action during the latter half of the 105-day legislative session, when each chamber typically considers bills passed by the other.
source: axios.com
