Coast Property Management 8/3/2020

Information for Tenants Page 3 of 15 Failure to carry out stated cause: If an owner termi- retaliating if the landlord takes any of these actions nates a tenant because of(1)the sale of a single family within 90 days after a tenant reports a violation to residence is planned, (2)the owner or a family member SDCI or to the Seattle Police Department, or within is to move in,(3)substantial rehabilitation is planned, 90 days after a governmental agency action, such as (4)the number of residents must be reduced to eight, making an inspection. or(5)the owner is discontinuing the use of an ADU after receipt of a notice of violation,and the owner fails A tenant is prohibited from harassing or retaliating to carry out the stated reason for terminating the ten- against a landlord by: ancy, he or she may be subject to enforcement action 1• Changing or adding locks on unit doors by the City and a civil penalty of up to$2,500. Private right of action for tenants: If an owner termi- 2. Removing owner supplied fixtures, furniture, or nates a tenant because of(1)the sale of a single family services residence is planned, (2)the owner or a family member 3. Willfully damaging the building is to move in,or(3)substantial rehabilitation is planned, For more information or to file a complaint, call SDCI and if the owner fails to carry out the stated reason for at(206)615-0808. terminating the tenancy, the tenant can sue the owner for up to$3,000, costs,and reasonable attorney's fees. DEFINITION OF TENANT For additional information on the Just Cause Eviction With the exception of the Tenant Relocation Assis- Ordinance, call SDCI at(206)615-0808 or visit the tance Ordinance, a tenant is defined as a person SDCI website at www.seattle.gov/sdci. occupying or holding possession of a building or premises pursuant to a rental agreement. This ACTIONS CONSIDERED TO BE includes residents of transient lodgings who remain HARASSMENT OR RETALIATION in residence for one month or longer. A rental agree- City law prohibits retaliatory actions against either a ment may be oral or in writing. tenant or a landlord. A landlord is prohibited from harassing or retaliating DEFINITION OF HOUSING COSTS against a tenant by: Housing costs include rent and any other periodic or monthly fees such as storage, parking,or utilities, 1. Changing or tampering with locks on unit doors paid to the landlord by a tenant. 2. Removing doors, windows,fuse box, furniture or other fixtures INCREASE IN HOUSING COSTS 3. Discontinuing utilities supplied by the owner In the City of Seattle, a landlord must give a tenant 30 4. Removing a tenant from the premises except days' advance written notice of an increase in housing through the formal court eviction process costs(rent, parking, storage, and other fees associ- 5. Evicting, increasing rent or threatening a tenant ated with the rental)of less than 10%; 60 days'notice for reporting code violations to SDCI or the Police is required for increases of 10%or more. An increase Department or for exercising any legal rights aris- can only begin at the beginning of rental period, typi- ing out of the tenant's occupancy cally at the beginning of the month. These notices 6. Entering a tenant's unit, except in an emergency, must include information about how the tenant or except at reasonable times after giving at least can access information about their rights and two days notice, or a one-day notice when show responsibilities ing units to prospective purchasers or tenants A landlord cannot increase housing costs for any 7. Prohibiting a tenant, or a tenant's authorized housing unit that does not meet the minimum habit- agent who is accompanied by that tenant, from ability standards of the Residential Rental Inspection distributing information in the building, posting Program. (http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/cs/groups/pan/@ information on bulletin boards in accordance with pan/documents/web_informational/s048492.pdf) building rules, contacting other tenants, assisting tenants to organize and holding meetings in com- Property owners and developers cannot increase munity rooms or common areas housing costs to avoid applying for a Tenant Reloca- 8. Increase the monthly housing costs without advance tion License where a rental property is going to be written notice;30 days for a rent increase of less than demolished, rehabilitated, changed in use, or where 10%,60 days for a rent increase of 10%or more use restrictions are going to be removed. (http://www. seattle.gov/dpd/codesrules/commonquestions/ten- 9. Increase monthly housing costs where a housing antrelocation/default.htm) unit does not meet basic standards for habitability In most instances the law assumes that a landlord is