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Olympia City Council adopts TENANT protections

On April 9, 2024, about 55 Olympia for All supporters made our presence clear with paddle signs as the Olympia City Council approved a package of tenant protections very similar to O4A's initiative including relocation assistance paid to tenants for rent increases over 7%, late fees capped at $10/month, longer notice for rent increases, and other much needed reforms. We are disappointed that the Olympia City Council's trigger for relocation assistance is 7% instead of 5% because we all know that none of us get 7% annual wage increases. 

 

This is just the first set of reforms needed to make housing more affordable for Olympians, and we need to fight for more. For now, this is a nice VICTORY worth celebrating and we thank each and every one of you who supported this effort. The Olympia for All campaign is a great reminder that people can overcome the power of money when we unite and take action!

Downtown Oly Apartment Facade

Source: Thurston Regional Planning Council

summary of the

olympia landlord fairness code

InitiativE

Downtown Oly Alley

FAIR AND TESTED RIGHTS FOR TENANTS

All the policies in Olympia Landlord Fairness Code are modeled on existing laws already passed in cities across Washington designed to protect families, promote community, stabilize the rental market, and reduce homelessness.

Olympia tenants deserve the same protections already enjoyed by hundreds of thousands statewide like prohibition of unfair or excessive fees, prohibition of certain student/school-year evictions and cold-weather evictions, and penalties and other enforcement mechanisms which balance the needs of landlords and tenants.

TACKLING THE ROOT CAUSE OF HOMELESSNESS:
HOUSING INSTABILITY

Housing instability occurs when tenants are overburdened with rent that exceeds 30% of their monthly income. In 2021, the average renter in Olympia paid over 45% of their monthly income on rent. The average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment in Olympia skyrocketed 88% between 2015 – 2023.

To combat this trend and to meet the goals of the Thurston Regional Planning Council, the Olympia Landlord Fairness Code will do the following:

  • Ban rent increases when code violations exist;

  • Require six months notice for all rent increases;

  • Discourage extreme rent increases by requiring relocation assistance for rent increases over 5%;

  • Cap late fees to $10/month.

Downtown Oly Alley
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