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Senate Bill Report — SB 6651, Local Prohibition of Tenant Evictions (February 5, 2020)

Summary

A Senate Bill Report on SB 6651, As of February 5, 2020, titled An act relating to preventing the local prohibition of tenant evictions for any period of time, from the Senate Committee on Financial Institutions, Economic Development & Trade. The brief summary says the bill prohibits cities and counties from enacting ordinances that would disallow evictions of tenants by landlords for any period of time. The background section describes the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act and the Manufactured/Mobile Home Landlord-Tenant Act. The report lists Appropriation: None and Fiscal Note: Not requested. Testimony in favor came from Senator Phil Fortunato, the prime sponsor, and representatives of Seattle For Growth and the Washington Landlord Association.

Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used

Issuer
Congressional materials
Document type
Report
Date
2020-02-06
Case
2020 02 06 A26452 D214218 Bill Report 6651 Sba Fiet 20 Ta

Cite this document

“Senate Bill Report — SB 6651, Local Prohibition of Tenant Evictions (February 5, 2020).” Original at app.leg.wa.gov, dated 2020-02-06. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/2020-02-06-2020-02-06-a26452-d214218-bill-report-6651-sba-fiet-20-ta/, SHA-256 e83db64f5d9be5736a06c594a24467d19e9a4ab5465dfaf88759aa93e2f798e1.

Full text

                             SENATE BILL REPORT
                                   SB 6651

                                      As of February 5, 2020

Title: An act relating to preventing the local prohibition of tenant evictions for any period of
    time.

Brief Description: Preventing the local prohibition of tenant evictions for any period of time.

Sponsors: Senator Fortunato.

Brief History:
   Committee Activity: Financial Institutions, Economic Development & Trade: 2/04/20.

                                      Brief Summary of Bill
          Ÿ Prohibits cities and counties from enacting ordinances that would disallow
            evictions of tenants by landlords for any period of time.


SENATE  COMMITTEE                  ON      FINANCIAL          INSTITUTIONS,           ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT & TRADE

    Staff: Kellee Gunn (786-7429)

    Background: Residential landlord-tenant relationships in Washington State are governed by
    the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (RLTA). The RLTA establishes rights and duties of both
    tenants and landlords, procedures for the parties to enforce their rights, and remedies for
    violations. The relationship between the owner of a mobile home park (landlord) and the
    owner of the mobile home (tenant) is governed under the Manufactured/Mobile Home
    Landlord-Tenant Act (MHLTA). The MHLTA similarly establishes rights and duties of both
    tenants and landlords, procedures for the parties to enforce their rights, and remedies for
    violations.

    Various federal and state laws further govern the screening and rental process for all
    landlords and tenants. Local governments may enforce other requirements related to the
    landlord-tenant relationship.




––––––––––––––––––––––
    This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative
    members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it
    constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Senate Bill Report                              -1-                                          SB 6651
    Summary of Bill: Cities and counties may not enact ordinances that prohibit, for any period
    of time, evictions of tenants by landlords in a single-family, multifamily residential rental
    unit, or manufactured/mobile home community.

    Appropriation: None.

    Fiscal Note: Not requested.

    Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.

    Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

    Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: The Legislature has been doing a lot about
    landlord and tenant relationships recently. The City of Seattle's current proposal to have
    people not pay rent during the winter months would make it impossible for landlords to pay
    their mortgages and taxes. In this bill, the state would preempt cities and counties on
    eviction bans. The committee should understand that there are over 600,000 rental units in
    Seattle and of that there are only 50 or 60 removals a month. The notion that 87 percent of
    those people who are evicted end up homeless is not true. It is important to understand that
    these evictions are manageable. The Mariners gifted money to the City of Seattle to take care
    of this problem. The problem with compensating landlords is that those funds would come
    from higher taxes, possibly on landlords. I own 4000 units in this state and we invest in class
    B and C housing properties. I believe in providing excellent housing. The eviction rules
    changed dramatically in July, which led to more issues related to evictions. When we cannot
    be flexible with the tenant, it results in more evictions. Allowing cities and counties to
    establish eviction bans may lead to people gaming the system. Investment in real estate
    housing is a common method for people to prepare for retirement. Taking out five months of
    income means that asset is lost. Most people only make about 10 percent of profit per
    month, and so there is not much cushion if a person cannot collect rent. Landlords are
    leaving the market because of costs related to these kinds of policies. When landlords leave,
    that rental property goes off the market. We are short on rental housing. People are moving
    here in higher rates. Thurston County has a sub 3 percent vacancy rate. There is no rental
    stock left. This is because of decisions made at the state and local level. People need to
    consider whether a decision will lead to more or less housing. We have a housing crisis
    because we are not focused on building housing.

    Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Phil Fortunato, Prime Sponsor; Karl Neiders, Seattle For
    Growth; Roger Valdez, Seattle For Growth; Chester Baldwin, Washington Landlord
    Association.

    Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.




Senate Bill Report                             -2-                                         SB 6651

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