(The Center Square) – A proposed ordinance revising the voter-approved Tacoma Landlord Fairness Code Initiative has been modified after initial feedback to lessen the impact on low-income renters.
The initiative, narrowly approved by voters in 2023, requires landlords to provide two rent-increase notices – one 210 to 180 days in advance and 120 to 90 days before a rent change. After concerns were raised by low-income housing providers about the initiative’s impact, the Tacoma City Council is proposing changes, as is allowed under the Tacoma City Charter following a two-year restriction on any changes has passed.
Tacoma City Councilmember Sarah Rumbaugh’s original proposal would have replaced the dual-notice system with a single 120-day notice – 30 days longer than state law. However, since Nov 18, the draft has been revised to extend the notice requirements to raise rents from 120 days to 180 days, aligning with the current initiative.
Other changes include limiting affordable housing exemptions to nonprofit entities that provide rental housing for qualifying households; increasing the 80% AMI requirement for the cold-weather eviction defense to a 120% AMI requirement; and updating a Dec. 1 to March 1 eviction moratorium to Nov. 15 to March 15, which was pitched by Tacoma City Councilmember Jamika Scott last month.
Units exempted from the initiative would still be required to comply with all other tenant protection laws before an eviction can occur.
Data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development reveals that Tacoma has 5,696 low-income housing tax-credit units. The Tacoma Housing Authority, the city’s largest housing provider, manages just about 2,000 units. Rumbaugh said the agency has more than 10,000 people on its waitlist as well.
“The reality is: despite the Landlord Fairness Code initiative’s intentions, it has had dire consequences for our city, most notably on our low-income housing providers who provide housing to those with the greatest need,” Rumbaugh said during a city council meeting on Dec. 2.
During that council meeting, fellow Councilmember Olgy Diaz said she will bring forward two amendments that allow rental relocation assistance and a cold weather eviction prohibition removal of the AMI requirement currently in the proposal.
Any proposed amendment and the underlying proposal will be up for city council approval on Dec. 9.
