What to look out for when you are screening applicants during the Winter months!

by Marcia Gohman - Head of the tenant screening company, NTN-Northwest

Greetings! I’m sending out this note because the “Silly Season” has kicked off EARLY!! In normal times we see maybe two or three sex offenders in a month. Today I encountered my FIFTH one for this week!! It’s crazy!
 
Be sure you have written screening criteria, and make the applicants sign it. You can be fined if you fail to give the applicant written screening criteria. Criteria helps the applicants to know that you will be checking all of their information carefully.
 
Now, back to our regular “Silly Season”…
 
Trying to rent your place any time between Thanksgiving and the New Year? Be very careful! This is the time of year that we call, “The Silly Season”. If you think about it, who would want to move this close to Christmas? Nobody in their right mind! That's who! Many of us already have Christmas Decorations up; we have purchased a tree or lights and other assorted decor for our homes, front porches, and lawns.
 
So why would someone be moving this time of year? Because they HAVE to!
 
Typically the applications we see from December to January 1st have the most inventive information and the most interesting Criminal reports we see all year.
 

• On one application under "Why are you moving"

"Just got out of the Canadian Navy".. Canada has a Navy, but he was just released from prison in Washington. That's close, right?
 

• On another application the applicant listed her name, then we noticed a different last name in her email address and that she signed it with a slightly different name..

 

• The applicant warned the landlord that there was “This one little thing” on her criminal report. Two Pages of little things. Apparently they all blend together.

 
So what do we do? We take things very slowly. Pay more attention to how the application is filled out, check picture ID more carefully, and ask for a recent pay stub. If the applicant is in a BIG Hurry, you tell them it will take you five days to complete your verification process.

And no matter how tempting, remember that almost everyone who offers to pay you six months’ rent in advance is a recreational pharmaceutical salesperson. (Drug Dealer)
 
Verify all telephone numbers. Just today I have found that one phone number was a family member, and one was to a friend who runs a storage facility. The applicant listed that she lived in #6. How did I find that? Google Earth. It's a great tool for landlords! Plug in the address and see what comes up! 
 
Does it appear to be an apartment community? A house? Or is it a strip mall or office complex? 
If you are given what appears to be a single-family residence address, you can find the county tax assessor and get the owner's name and address. Many counties have a Tax Assessor web site where you can enter the address and find the owner. You still have to find the phone number; use Whitepage.com or Truepeoplesearch.com which might be even better, and I'm considering using them more than the other options.
 
You can also just Google the phone number.
 
If the applicant gives you a number for his/her employer, you can internet search it and see if the number belongs to the company or is a friend's cell phone number. After searching up the company info I call them directly rather than the number provided. Many employers also have an email for HR on their web site.
 
One of my favorite tricks, when I know I’m going to talk to a friend or family member, is to call and ask about the rental I heard they have. The family member automatically says, “What?!? We don’t have rentals!”, and bingo. You have verified a fib on the application.
 
I know, I know. This sounds like a LOT of extra work. But it will pay off in the end. You don’t want to start out your New Year looking for lawyers, or stuck with a bad tenant, because you didn’t verify that “One little Thing”..
 
There are good people moving, so don’t lose hope. Yes, we have all the COVID stuff, and we’re still working with people displaced from the fires last year. Just be careful and take things slowly.
 
Once we get to January the company transfers go out and the better applicants re-appear. Until then, just remember. ‘Tis the Season!!

Hello WLA Members:

For your general information, today, Tuesday, September 21 Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan announced an extension of the Seattle’s eviction moratorium through January 15, 2022.

This eviction moratorium includes “residential, nonprofit and small-business tenants, with small businesses defined as those with 50 or fewer employees. Most evictions are prohibited for those tenants, including evictions for nonpayment of rent, though tenants remain legally obligated to pay rent and can accumulate debt.”

This is the sixth time since the pandemic that the Mayor has extended the city’s eviction moratorium.

To view Mayor Jenny Durkans Executive Order, click here.​

To view further information see the following articles.
 

• Mayor Durkan extends Seattle eviction moratorium into January 2022
• Seattle’s COVID-19 eviction moratoriums extended into January 2022 by Mayor Jenny Durkan

 
Thanks, 
                                                                            
Chester Baldwin, Attorney at Law
Public Affairs Consulting, LLC
chet@lobbywa.com
Cell: (360) 688-4588
Fax: (360) 841-7062

Rent Control Bill SB 5139 Scheduled for Public Hearing

SB 5139 has been scheduled for a public hearing Thursday January 21st at 8:00 am in the Senate Housing and Local Government Committee 
 
WE NEED YOUR VOICE TO STOP RENT CONTROL!
 
·     SB 5139 will prohibit a housing provider from increasing rent or other charges for the first 6 months after the end of the Governor’s emergency eviction ban. 
 
·     After the first 6 months expire, housing providers are then limited to only increasing rent by 3% over the previous year’s consumer price index, for a subsequent 6 months, based on the rental rate as it was on March 1, 2020. 
 
SB 5139 would seek to aggressively limit rent increases in a period where lawmakers have decided to prevent the enforcement of rental payments. Small housing providers are faced with a total lack of protections for large increases in property taxes, utility costs, and potential devastation of their credit with lenders.
 
Rent control has proven to be a terrible policy for both housing providers, city planners and tenants alike. The policy creates perverse incentives, shadow markets, and punishes maintenance and reinvestment in residences. It locks tenants into their rental properties forcing people to commute farther and farther to their places of employment, and allows more affluent renters to pay reduced rent rates, blocking the units from being available to those in need. 
 
Sign up to testify here. 
 
Please register for our Rental Housing Coalition Grassroots Briefing Room here, where we will be discussing the future of this bill and others on a weekly basis every Monday at 10:00 am. Speak directly to lobbyists, industry attorneys and government affairs staff who can help you share your voice.
 
You can contact the Senators in the Housing and Local Government Committee directly at their emails below: 
 
Chair Patty Kuderer - patty.kuderer@leg.wa.gov 
Vice Chair Mona Das - mona.das@leg.wa.gov 
Phil Fortunato - phil.fortunato@leg.wa.gov 
Chris Gildon – chris.gildon@leg.wa.gov 
Shelly Short - shelly.short@leg.wa.gov 
Annette Cleveland - annette.cleveland@leg.wa.gov 
Liz Lovelett - liz.lovelett@leg.wa.gov 
Jesse Salomon - jesse.salomon@leg.wa.gov 
Judy Warnick - judith.warnick@leg.wa.gov 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SB 5160 Eviction Ban Bill Scheduled for Public Hearing
​
SB 5160 has been scheduled for a public hearing Wednesday January 20th at 10:30am in the Senate Housing and Local Government Committee 
 
WE NEED YOUR VOICE TO OPPOSE THIS DEVASTATING POLICY PROPOSAL 
 
·     SB 5160 also mandates that housing providers renew any rental agreement or month-to-month tenancy for 2 years after the end of the emergency period ends, unless the property owner sells the unit, or moves into the unit themselves. 
 
·     SB 5160 will prevent any eviction for nonpayment of rent that occurred during the COVID emergency period 
 
·     SB 5160 requires any debt that is outstanding during the emergency period can be pursued in through collection actions only if the housing provider has offered a payment plan as defined in the bill. 
 
·     SB 5160 mandates that all tenants have access to state funded counsel in an unlawful detainer, automatically seals court records, and increases the filing fee for unlawful detainers  
 
These two policies will have a devastating effect on small housing providers who are already strapped financially from increasing costs and missing income in 2020. Many small housing providers are desperately searching for a way to have their units create income to pay taxes, utilities, mortgages, and keep staff employed.
  
The Legislature should be focus on polices that protect both housing providers and tenants who have been damaged through no fault of their own by the government shutdowns in response to the COVID pandemic. This is not the year to pursue broad changes to the eviction process, or contested landlord-tenant laws.
 
You can sign up to testify here. 
 
Please register for our Rental Housing Coalition Grassroots Briefing Room here, where we will be discussing the future of this bill and others on a weekly basis every Monday at 10am. Speak directly to lobbyists, industry attorneys and government affairs staff who can help you share your voice.
 
You can contact the Senators in the Housing and Local Government Committee directly at their emails below: 
 
Chair Patty Kuderer - patty.kuderer@leg.wa.gov 
Vice Chair Mona Das - mona.das@leg.wa.gov 
Phil Fortunato - phil.fortunato@leg.wa.gov 
Chris Gildon – chris.gildon@leg.wa.gov 
Shelly Short - shelly.short@leg.wa.gov 
Annette Cleveland - annette.cleveland@leg.wa.gov 
Liz Lovelett - liz.lovelett@leg.wa.gov 
Jesse Salomon - jesse.salomon@leg.wa.gov 
Judy Warnick - judith.warnick@leg.wa.gov 
 
You can find a detailed summary of SB 5160 here.

Written & Distributed From the Offices of Baldwin & Blake,
Public Affairs Consultants

Urging all WLA Members to Electronically Sign in Opposition or Sign in to Testify Virtually to OPPOSE SB 5096
 

1. SB 5096: Concerning an excise tax on gains from the sale or exchange of certain capital assets.

• Implements a 9% Capital Gains tax including a residential dwelling with more than four units. This includes commercial office buildings, manufactured housing, condominiums, self-storage, retail, and floating homes.
• The tax applies to individuals earning over $25,000, and couples earning over $50,000 annually.
• This tax would be in addition to the federal capital gains tax.
• With the Governor’s moratorium on rents not to be raised and unemployment for tenants due to COVID, we are hugely impacting the housing market. You will likely be asked by lawmakers, what percentage of the market for your individual property or industry figures are not paying rent due to these conditions.

 
Sponsors:  Senators: Robinson
By Request: Office of Financial Management
STATUS SB:      Senate Ways and Means Committee
Hearing: Thursday, January 14 at 4:00 p.m.
 
§  To Sign up to Submit written testimony,
§  Testify virtually in Opposition of, or
§  To Provide opposition to be noted for the legislative record, click here.
 
 
Please also contact the members of the Senate Ways & Means Committee 
urging them to OPPOSE SB 5096
 
Senate Ways & Means Committee Members - PDF LINK
Note: Member Contact Info is located on page 2 of the attached PDF
 
Please take action right away!!

Hello WLA Members:

For your general information, the 2021 Legislative Session begins January 11th and adjourns Sunday, April 25th.

To download this email as a PDF please click here

To download more information about accessing the legislature click here

 
Meetings with Legislators

Meetings will be held virtually this year primarily over Zoom (Legislators will also be using Microsoft Teams to conduct caucus meetings). These zoom meetings will mostly be the usual 15-minute intervals as they would in person, but some may run longer or shorter. If you are participating in a scheduled meeting, please be block off 30 minutes to provide a logistical cushion to maximize our time with the Legislator and accommodate their busy schedules. Brevity will also be crucial to ensure we get all our priorities heard and answer any questions the Legislator may have.

How to Watch Committee Hearings
 
TVW has committed to continuing their partnership with the State of Washington to broadcast all committee hearings and Floor activity. We will provide updates, summaries and notifications regarding important hearings but below are links to view them on your own:


Committee hearing information can be found here

Watch online at: www.tvw.org


Testifying During Committees

With the Capital Campus restricted to only a handful of state employees and Legislators attending these meetings virtually, folks wishing to testify will need to do so remotely. Remote testimonies have been used sparingly over the past few years in certain designated off campus sites such as colleges, community centers and other public places. This year the Legislature has taken away restrictions on where a person can testify.

How to Register to Testify Remotely

1.   Select the committee and meeting date and time, then select the bill for which you would like to testify remotely. The link to testify is here.
2.  Select “I would like to Testify Live During the Hearing.” Remote testimony registration will close 1 hour before the start time of the hearing. Anyone who does not register before this deadline will be unable to testify before the committee.
3.  Ensure your registration information is accurate. It will be a part of the legislative record and used by TVW for online and television graphics.
 
Additional Information about Testifying

·     Those who register for remote testimony will be emailed a Zoom link to the meeting upon registration. Each link is unique to the registrant. Registrants are prohibited from sharing links.
·     You may participate via videoconference or phone. See instructions on how to connect to the meeting.
·     There is no guarantee that those who register to testify will be allowed to speak or be able to speak at specific times. You may be required to limit your comments.
·     Maintain proper meeting decorum, including waiting to be acknowledged by the Chair before speaking and following rules for testimony established by the Chair.
·     Committee and technical staff may not be able to address any connection or technical issues you may experience before or during the committee meeting.
 
Anyone who fails to follow the rules for testimony established by the Chair may forfeit their opportunity to testify. Legislators are being asked to follow in person dress codes and decorum while virtually attending these meetings, we recommend you do the same when testifying remotely.  
 
Commenting on Bills

The best way to comment on a bill is direct communication with your districts’ legislators. If you have a good relationship with them and have their cell, text and calls are the most effective. If you do not have their cell phone number or feel like you have a close enough relationship to call, then email their office. You can find their contact information here. We recommend sending it to the Legislator but also cc’ing the Legislative Aide. 

Lastly, there is also a process to comment on a bill over the Legislative website which you can do here. These are sent to Legislators but don’t always get seen by every Legislator as their staff usually screens these comments and may not prioritize those comments.

How to Submit Written Testimony When a Bill has a Hearing:

1.   Select the committee and meeting date and time, then select the bill for which you would like to submit written testimony. The link to submit written testimony is here.
2.  Select “I would like to Submit Written Testimony.” Written testimony will close 24 hours after the start time of the hearing.
3.  Provide your written comments in the form. Your comments will be sent to legislative members and staff of the committee and will be included in the legislative record for bill and meeting archival purposes but will not be used as part of testimony summary materials on the bill report.

Virtual Day in Olympia

Normally a day in Olympia would mean a whole day spent with as many Legislative meetings we can schedule, a lunch with keynote speakers, a possible reception and so much more that isn’t logistically possible in this year’s session. We will continue to have meetings scheduled that day virtually, but we could choose to focus our efforts on two main events: A virtual Legislative lunch and a virtual Legislative reception.

A virtual Legislative lunch could have a format that follows open attendance during the noon hour, with a keynote presentation and possible speaker for 10 minutes at a scheduled time during the hour (12:30pm). Prior to the presentation as Legislators enter, we would introduce them and after the presentation we could open it up to questions members may have for the Legislators.

A virtual reception could be very similar but in a more relaxed setting where we could encourage fun drinks and snacks. We would likely have the same presentation (hopefully with different legislators in attendance) and perhaps play an interactive game like trivia or something else to engage Legislators.

Campus Security Update

With recent events at our nation’s capital and here on our Olympia capital campus we would like to share the information given to the Third House during a phone call with the head of Senate Security. As you already know this is a “Virtual” session for 2021 and it will present many challenges for all. Security at the campus will be the maximum level with emphasis on the first two weeks. Here are the main issues shared during the call.

1.   The only entrance to the campus is a security check point on Sid Snyder Drive.
2.  Only Legislative employees with I.D. will be able to enter the campus. This was emphasized “No I.D. No Access” to the grounds.
3.  All building entrances will be physically guarded for entry. All key card access has been disabled at this time.
4.  All “Visitor Parking” is closed. This if for the entire campus, east and west.
 
To summarize the message from security was, stay home for your own safety and the safety of others. We know this session is going to be difficult for all of us. 

Sincerely, 

Chester Baldwin, Lobbyist

Tenant Protections 

Prohibits landlords from terminating or refusing to renew a rental agreement for "no cause" until 2 
years after expiration of any public health emergency unless landlord intends to sell the property 
or occupy the property as personal residence and at least 60 days’ notice provided as form signed 
under penalty of perjury 

Presumes any "no cause" termination notice issued to a tenant for any unpaid rent that accrued 
between March 1, 2020, and [Gov eviction moratorium exp. date], is a reprisal or retaliatory action.

• Prohibits a landlord from taking any adverse action against a tenant who raises their rights  

Prohibits a tenant’s right to possession of dwelling unit used primarily for residential purposes to 
be conditioned on satisfaction of any rent that accrued between March 1, 2020, and [Gov eviction 
moratorium exp. date].  

Prohibits landlords from treating any unpaid rent accrued between March 1, 2020, and [Gov 
eviction moratorium exp. date], as an enforceable debt or obligation that is owing or collectable 
within an action for possession of the rental property. 

Authorizes tenants adversely impacted by COVID-19 to terminate their tenancy upon a 20-day 
written notice, which includes a statement that termination of tenancy is due to COVID-19  
Prohibits landlords from assessing any penalty, early termination fee, or any other amount 
on a tenant who elects to terminate their tenancy for their failure to continue their tenancy 
for a predetermined amount of time.
 

• Prohibits forfeiture of any deposit paid by the tenant who terminates their tenancy as 

allowed.  

• Prohibits a tenant’s early termination of a prior lease to be a factor in any housing decision 

affecting the tenant’s right or ability to occupy a rental dwelling.

• Prohibits a tenant’s nonpayment of any rent that accrued between March 1, 2020, and [Gov 

eviction moratorium exp. date], to be a factor in any housing decision effecting a tenant’s right or 
ability to occupy a rental dwelling. 

• Prohibits landlords from charging or imposing late fees or other charges for nonpayment of rent 

during any public health emergency.

• Prohibits a landlord from denying, discouraging, or otherwise making unavailable any rental 

dwelling unit based on a tenant’s or prospective tenant’s medical history, including, but not limited 
to, prior or current exposure or infection to the COVID-19 virus.  

• Prohibits a landlord from inquiring about, considering, or requiring disclosure of a 

tenant's or prospective tenant's medical records or history, unless such disclosure is 
necessary to evaluate a reasonable accommodation request or reasonable modification 
request under RCW 49.60.222.

• Declares a violation of this subsection constitutes a violation of chapter 49.60 RCW 

Penalizes landlords up to four and one-half times monthly rent with court costs and attorneys’ fees 
for violations  
 
Repayment Plans 

Requires landlords to first offer tenants before any collection action a repayment plan consisting of 
monthly installments dependent upon the months of back rent owed and accrued between March 
1, 2020, and [Gov eviction moratorium exp. date]  

• Requires repayment plan payments to begin no sooner than 60 days after the plan is 

offered.

• Ensures that any repayment plan entered into by the parties covers only “rent” as 

defined in RLTA (no legal fees, late fees, etc.) 

• Requires any repayment plan to allow for payment from any source of income (benefits 

or subsidy programs) or via pledges by non-profits, churches, religious institutions, or 
governmental entities  

• Prohibits repayment plans to include provisions or be conditioned on compliance with 

the rental agreement, payment of attorneys’ fees, court costs, or other costs related to 
litigation if the tenant defaults on the agreement, or a requirement that the tenant apply 
for governmental benefits or provide proof of receipt of governmental benefits 

• Prohibits repayment plans to authorize any form of expedited eviction process  

Authorizes landlords to pursue an unlawful detainer action if tenant refuses offer of repayment 
plan or defaults on repayment plan 

• Provides a defense to an eviction if landlord did not offer a repayment plan but not if 

landlord can prove that tenant was offered and refused or failed to comply with 
repayment plan 
 
Mediation Session 

Replaces the show cause hearing within any RLTA unlawful detainer (UD) action with a required 
mediation session between the parties before any trial is scheduled. 

• Requires the landlord to schedule the mediation session with the court and provide at 

least 7 days' notice to the tenant. 

• Splits costs of mediation between the parties unless one party does not participate in 

good faith. 

• Requires mediator to certify and send results of mediation to court within X days of 

conclusion of mediation session. 

• Requires the court to order and set a trial date without rent or bond required if parties fail 

to reach resolution during mediation. 

• Authorizes tenant to submit defenses at trial unless court has issued at the mediation 

session a schedule for asserting any subsequent pleadings.

• Authorizes court to issue a writ of restitution if tenant fails to appear but without any 

monetary judgment award.

Prohibits issuance of a writ of restitution before a trial on the pleadings otherwise. 
Authorizes parties to seek discovery respectively before the hearing. 
Prohibits application of provisions requiring the judge to amend the UD complaint at trial if other 
tenant offenses found not related to those in original complaint. 
  
Right to Counsel 

Requires landlords to inform tenants of their right to counsel and to a court-appointed counsel at 
the mediation session or trial if indigent.
Requires courts to appoint counsel at the mediation session and at any scheduled trial. 
Requires state to pay costs of right to counsel legal services subject to amounts appropriated. 

• Appoints OCLA as implementing entity.

Requires courts to attempt to retain same counsel for tenants at trial if counsel provided during 
mediation session.
 
Emergency Rental Assistance Program 

Creates a new emergency rental assistance program with Commerce designed to reimburse 
landlords for claims of unpaid rent and utilities.

• Requires Commerce to provide grants to eligible organizations (county entities) in order to 

provide assistance to landlord applicants.
Clarifies that program funds must be used for rental assistance for X months of back and/or future 
rent, utility assistance, and administrative costs. 
Provides following prioritization for receipt of funds: landlords with no more than 4 units; landlords 
with 5-100 units; and all other landlords.
 
Requires the following conditions for receipt of funds as part of an affidavit signed under penalty of 
perjury: 

• Preservation of the tenancy unless the tenant has terminated the lease early or has 

abandoned the lease/unit.

• Disclosure of rental units owned by the landlord and name/address of the tenant for which 

the claim is submitted. 

• To the best of landlord's knowledge, tenant for which claim has been submitted has not 

applied for or received any other rental assistance.

Requires landlords to waive any remaining rental arrears if program funds reimburse at least 80 
percent of FMR rate of claim amount, and waive any other monetary claims for other fees/charges 
once reimbursed.
Prohibits access to program and/or requires denial of claim if landlord commits fraud. 
Creates affiliated, appropriated account. 
 
Miscellaneous 

Prohibits pro se agreements between landlord and tenant pursuant to an eviction action in which 
tenant agrees to pay more than statutory judgment limits, amounts other than rent to retain 
tenancy, or any tenant rights under judicial discretion or RLTA. 
Prohibits dissemination of mediation sessions if they fail to resolve dispute between the parties 
under RLTA.
Limits dissemination of eviction actions due to nonpayment of rent resulting from COVID-19. 
Requires landlords to pay the balance of a UD filing fee after the mediation session or before the 
trial on the pleadings.
Removes prohibition on judicial discretion eligibility if tenant received three or more pay or vacate 
notices within previous 12 months.
Declares an emergency. 


To voice your opinion on the draft, you can contact the Senator and her staff.
Provided below is their contact information:

Senator Patty Kuderer's email Patty.Kuderer@leg.wa.gov

Also provided is her assistant's email: tanya.lavoy@leg.wa.gov

Also provided is a link to her website with additional contact info: Contact - Sen. Patty Kuderer - Washington State Senate Democrats (wastateleg.org)

To Download a PDF of this summary, please download the PDF below. 
Also included is the full bill of the Eviction Reform. 
(please see 2nd PDF attachment below for the full bill.