Hot market puts the squeeze on renters
If you move quickly you can find a great one-bedroom apartment in a nice local neighborhood for less than $800 a month. Just don't plan on living anywhere near Downtown Seattle.
As far as some renters are concerned, the rental shortage is nearing crisis stage. Demand is high and supply is steadily dropping.
Across the Puget Sound region, the vacancy rate for apartments is at or below 4 percent. It hasn't been that low since 2000.
As a result, rents are soaring. Look at what's happened in just the last four years:
In King County the apartment vacancy rate is down more than 50 percent since fall 2003. And the average monthly rent has gone from $857 to just over $1,000.
In Pierce County the vacancy rate is at 3.6 percent, down from 7 percent in 2003. The average rent is $771, nearly $100 more than 2003.
Renters in Snohomish County are seeing the biggest hit. Not only are vacancies down more than 50 percent, the average rent is $150 more than it was in the fall of 2003.
The laws of supply and demand make it a landlord's market, and tenant complaints of abuse are also on the rise.
Top complaints include landlord discrimination against low income renters who receive government assistance, illegally withholding deposits, ignoring repairs, ignoring safety issues and violating state law regarding displacement and relocation when apartments are converted to condos.
Even thought Washington state and local cities have laws regarding landlord-tenant rights and responsibilities, the laws are minimal and enforcement right now tends to favor the landlords.
If you have a problem with your landlord you can contact the Tentants Union of Washington, and many county bar associations have neighborhood legal clinics that may be of assistance.
Local planning and development departments can help with issues involving code violations, and your local health department may be able to help with safety issues.
In the upcoming legislative session, a bill will be introduced aimed at prohibiting landlords from refusing to rent to low-income people who receive government housing subsidies.
For More Information:
Landlord-Tenant Rights
Community Legal Services
To contact your legislator about Landlord Tenant Laws
As far as some renters are concerned, the rental shortage is nearing crisis stage. Demand is high and supply is steadily dropping.
Across the Puget Sound region, the vacancy rate for apartments is at or below 4 percent. It hasn't been that low since 2000.
As a result, rents are soaring. Look at what's happened in just the last four years:
In King County the apartment vacancy rate is down more than 50 percent since fall 2003. And the average monthly rent has gone from $857 to just over $1,000.
In Pierce County the vacancy rate is at 3.6 percent, down from 7 percent in 2003. The average rent is $771, nearly $100 more than 2003.
Renters in Snohomish County are seeing the biggest hit. Not only are vacancies down more than 50 percent, the average rent is $150 more than it was in the fall of 2003.
The laws of supply and demand make it a landlord's market, and tenant complaints of abuse are also on the rise.
Top complaints include landlord discrimination against low income renters who receive government assistance, illegally withholding deposits, ignoring repairs, ignoring safety issues and violating state law regarding displacement and relocation when apartments are converted to condos.
Even thought Washington state and local cities have laws regarding landlord-tenant rights and responsibilities, the laws are minimal and enforcement right now tends to favor the landlords.
If you have a problem with your landlord you can contact the Tentants Union of Washington, and many county bar associations have neighborhood legal clinics that may be of assistance.
Local planning and development departments can help with issues involving code violations, and your local health department may be able to help with safety issues.
In the upcoming legislative session, a bill will be introduced aimed at prohibiting landlords from refusing to rent to low-income people who receive government housing subsidies.
For More Information:
Landlord-Tenant Rights
Community Legal Services
To contact your legislator about Landlord Tenant Laws