Washington State’s moratorium on evictions, that had been scheduled to expire on June 30, will be extended yet again.
A “bridge” extension has been set up from July 1 through September 30 supposedly to allow state programs and services for tenants time to get up and running. Landlords have been expected to cover the housing expenses of tenants since last March.
The eviction moratorium bridge will allow for a transition to tenant protections established in SB 5160 including Eviction Resolution pilot programs and a right to counsel program for indigent tenants. This will result in it taking longer to evict tenants who don’t feel they should be required to pay rent so that the landlord will need to subsidize tenants for a longer time.
Landlords are prohibited from evicting a tenant for rents that were past due from February 29, 2020 through July 31, 2021 until there is an operational rental assistance program and eviction resolution program in place in their county. Landlords are also prohibited from treating past unpaid rent or other charges as an enforceable debt until the landlord and tenant have been provided with an opportunity to “resolve” nonpayment through an eviction resolution pilot program. Of course, if a tenant is not interested in paying, the eviction resolution program will just delay the inevitable and allow the tenant to live for free, at the landlord’s expense, for a longer amount of time.
Renters are expected to pay something, such as reduced rent negotiated with landlord, or actively seek rental assistance funding, beginning August 1. Landlords may only evict a tenant if none of those actions are being taken. The landlord must offer the tenant a reasonable re-payment plan before beginning the eviction process. Tenants must also be provided, in writing, information about the services and support available.
Washington State places little value on private property rights. This will, of course, result in more small landlords selling their rental property and causing an increase in the housing shortage. Or in converting their properties to Airbnbs. Hotels and Airbnbs are exempt from this order.
Meanwhile, the Biden administration will extend the federal eviction ban to the end of July. This will be the fourth time the end of the ban has been pushed back. An unprecedented amount of emergency rental assistance money (tens of billions) is available for tenants. There are, however, some tenants who believe that they should be entitled to live for free.
If the bans are ever lifted, renters supposedly will need to pay their back rent or set up a payment plan. But if the tenant has no funds, the landlord will not be able to collect. Instead, they will probably need to spend money on paint and carpet to be able to rent out their unit again or to sell and get out of this high risk business once and for all.
Perhaps the goal of government is to take over the business of providing rental housing as they seem intent on driving landlords out of the business.