Spokane's NEW Landlord-Tenant Laws NOW IN EFFECT!

Housing remains at the forefront of one of the major issues in Spokane, and recently, the city council voted on landlord-tenant laws that have the potential to significantly impact the rental market. The four and a half-hour meeting resulted in the approval of an ordinance that consists of two parts. In this blog, we will break down the key points of the ordinance, provide the arguments from both sides, and explain why this vote is important to remember going forward.

Landords' Accountability

Part 1 of the ordinance is focused on holding landlords accountable and to a higher standard. The city aims to remove issues such as mold being present in rental properties, or making it mandatory for landlords to disclose any past issues with the property, similar to how sellers must disclose any relevant defects to buyers. The city ordinance refers to these standards as "baseline standards" for rental properties in Spokane.

To enforce these standards, the first point in this half of the ordinance is regarding business licensing. All persons who wish to rent out property in Spokane are now required to have a business license with the city, at a cost of approximately $130 per year. Even those who rent out sections of their house while living on the premises are included in this requirement. Previously, landlords with four or more rental properties were the only ones required to have a business license. The revenue generated from business licensing will be used to fund the next section of the ordinance, which is code enforcement.

The next part of the ordinance is in regards to code enforcement. The city will begin conducting random checks of rental properties to ensure that the conditions inside the home are livable. The city will not enter a home without permission from the tenant or a court order if they have reasonable belief that the inside of the home could be dangerous. These inspections will likely happen after a tenant has brought up an issue with their landlord, and the landlord has failed to repair it. The items that they will be looking for include structural defects, dilapidation on the exterior of the property, major issues with the plumbing, heating or electrical, unsanitary conditions, and any other violations of the city's building codes.

70% of the revenue generated from business licensing will fund code enforcement, and any revenue created from enforcing the codes will go towards continuing the program. However, some individuals have raised concerns about self-funded programs and certain quotas that may need to be met to keep the program alive.

Legal Services for Tenants

Part 2 of the ordinance focuses on universal background checks, legal services for tenants, and a mitigation program that the city is starting to help landlords and tenants. The city will hire an attorney for legal services for tenants, and the funds for this attorney will be paid through the settlements the attorney closes. The mitigation program will help tenants and landlords reach agreements that benefit both parties.

Many citizens who spoke at the meeting expressed concerns about the changes to the ordinance, as they did not have enough time to become familiar with the new wording. City council president, Breean Beggs, assured everyone that the wording was not changed significantly, other than a few things required by the city lawyers. The ordinance was split into two parts to ensure that the items that the whole council agreed upon could be voted in, while two of the seven members could vote no on the second part of the ordinance that they disagreed with.

In conclusion, the recent Spokane city council vote on landlord-tenant laws has the potential to significantly impact the rental market. The ordinance consists of two parts, with the first part aimed at holding landlords accountable to higher standards and the second part focusing on universal background checks, legal services for tenants, and a mitigation program. While some citizens expressed concerns about the changes, the council assured that the wording was not changed significantly, and the ordinance was split into two parts