Coast Property Management 8/3/2020

Information for Tenants Page 7 of 15 residence of the property owner. tenant decides not to buy his or her unit, the tenant must be paid$500.00 in relocation assistance. Also, exempted from regulation are the return or reten- tion of a security deposit,the requirement to provide a Relocation assistance is paid directly to the tenant unit condition checklist, and the requirement to place by the property owner or developer. The assistance a security deposit in a trust account and disclose to must be paid no later than the date on which a ten- the tenant the location of the account. However,the ant vacates his or her unit. Washington State Residential Landlord-Tenant Act still regulates these requirements. For further information, contact SDCI Code Compli- ance at(206) 615-0808. OTHER CITY ORDINANCES THAT AFFECT 3. Tenant Relocation Assistance Ordinance TENANTS AND LANDLORDS This ordinance applies when tenants are displaced 1. Open Housing and Public Accommodations by housing demolition, change of use, substantial Ordinance rehabilitation, or by removal of use restrictions from This ordinance prohibits discrimination based on race, subsidized housing. A property owner who plans color, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, development activity must obtain a tenant relocation sex, marital status, parental status, sexual orienta license and a building or use permit before terminat- tion, gender identity, political ideology, participation ing a tenancy, All tenants must receive a 90-day no in the Housing Choice Vouchers Program (Section 8), tice of the activity that will require them to move, Eligi or disability; requires landlords to rent a housing unit ble low income tenants,whose annual income cannot on first-come-first-served basis; and to accept subsi exceed 50%of the area median income, receive cash dies and alternative sources of income to pay for the relocation assistance. It is a violation of this ordinance tenant's housing costs. Inquiries about this ordinance to increase housing costs for the purpose of avoiding and complaints of violations should be directed to the applying for a Tenant Relocation License, Call SDCI Seattle Office for Civil Rights at(206)684-4500. at(206)615-0808 for more information. 2. Condominium and Cooperative Conversion 4. Repair and Maintenance—Housing and Ordinances Building Maintenance Code When a residential building is being converted to This ordinance requires owners to meet certain mini- condominium or cooperative units, the Condominium mum standards and keep buildings in good repair. If and Cooperative Conversion ordinances require a an owner does not make necessary repairs, a tenant housing code inspection. can report needed repairs by calling SDCI at(206) 615-0808. If an inspector finds code violations,the Additionally, in a condominium conversion, a tenant owner will be required to make needed corrections. must receive a written 120-day notice of the conver- sion. If the tenant decides not to buy his or her unit, 5. Third Party Billing Ordinance the tenant may be eligible to receive the equivalent This ordinance defines rules for landlords who, by of three(3)months' rent in relocation assistance if the themselves or through private companies, bill ten- tenant's annual income, from all sources, does not ex- ants for City provided utilities(water, sewer, garbage, ceed 80 percent of the area median income, adjusted electric services)separately from their rent. The ordi- for household size. A household which otherwise nance applies to all residential buildings having three qualifies to receive relocation benefits and which in- or more housing units. cludes a member sixty-five(65)years of age or older or an individual with"special needs,"as defined in the The rules require a landlord or billing agent to provide ordinance, may qualify for additional assistance. tenants with specific information about their bills and In a cooperative conversion, a tenant must receive to disclose their billing practices, either in a rental a 120-day notice of intention to sell the unit. If the agreement or in a separate written notice. It is a violation of the ordinance if a landlord imposes a new billing practice without appropriate notice. A tenant can dispute a third-party billing by notify- ing the billing agent and explaining the basis for the dispute. This must be done within 30 days of receiv- ing a bill. The billing agent must contact the tenant to discuss the dispute within 30 days of receiving notice of the dispute. A tenant can also file a complaint with the Seattle Office of the Hearing Examiner or take the