Blog

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT - Get to know Heather Strom, Tarragon Property Services How long have you worked in the industry? I’ve worked in the industry for almost four years now. I feel fortunate to have landed here! What is your favorite(s) WMFHA event and why? Up until last year, I would have... Continue Reading

LEARN. CONNECT. GROW. EdCon 2025 was one we won’t soon forget! We're still high on the success of EdCon 2025 and feel fortunate to have had over 2,100 industry professionals gather at the Seattle Convention Center’s Summit Building on March 13th for this one-day event. We not only had... Continue Reading

From the moment I arrived at EdCon, the energy was electric, the learning opportunities were endless, and the connections I made were truly invaluable. The absolute highlight of my entire experience was meeting Kelley Wentworth from Survivor! As a die-hard Survivor fan, this was a dream come... Continue Reading

EdCon 2025 Was Best Yet! Over 2100 property management professionals gathered at Seattle Convention Center on March 13th for EdCon 2025, WMFHA's education conference and tradeshow! This year, EdCon boasted not only our largest attendance to date, but our largest trade show, with 167 companies... Continue Reading

The Washington Supreme Court issued a huge victory to the Washington residential landlord community in today’s decision in Housing Authority of King County v. Knight.   The Court held tenants residing in covered residential properties (where tenant’s rent is subsidized or a... Continue Reading

The new 2025 Utility Estimates have been published by Seattle Housing Authority, which has historically been updated every few years. (OH) has published the new 2025 Renter’s Insurance Estimates obtained from the Office of the Insurance Commissioner for Washington State. These updates will... Continue Reading

Yesterday, February 6, despite some weather difficulties for our members, 180 WMFHA members and staff gathered at the Capitol in Olympia for our annual Day on the Hill to meet with 81 legislators or their staff, including the Lieutenant Governor of Washington. Together, we advocated for the... Continue Reading

WMFHA is excited to share that Alex Gurdian,CAMT, Regional Maintenance Supervisor with Thrive Communities, was part of a select group chosen by the National Apartment Association Education Institute (NAAEI) to attend an in-depth Certified Apartment Maintenance Technician (CAMT) job task analysis... Continue Reading

The The 2025 Kari Anderson' Emerging Leaders Program kicked off the yearlong program on January 28! This year's cohort is comprised of 20 diverse members representing different companies, positions, ages and experience levels. Each member was identified as a current and future leader that will... Continue Reading

Your WMFHA Advocacy Team is excited to announce the formation of a new coordinated advocacy and grassroots lobbying campaign to fight against HB 1217 and SB 5222 (rent cap legislation) in Olympia this session. BuildUp Washington is a partnership between WMFHA, NAIOP Washington, and many... Continue Reading

The November election results coupled with Governor Bob Ferguson’s cabinet appointments launched a scramble, particularly in King County, to fill many vacancies at the state legislature and one on the King County Council. Notable changes include Rep. Emily Alvarado advancing from the House... Continue Reading

Our advocacy team recently had the opportunity to present in front of Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck’s transition committee on housing. The Lt Governor has been tasked with briefing new Governor Bob Ferguson on the current housing landscape and the most pressing housing issues facing our... Continue Reading

The 2025 legislative session is finally here, and it's going to be an exciting 105 days of action! We’re kicking things off strong, and we need YOU to help us make this session a success. Each week, we’ll send out a recap to keep you in the loop and fired up about the progress... Continue Reading

Have you ever messed up? Perhaps you made a mistake at work, treated a romantic partner badly, said an unkind word to a friend. Guess what? You’re not alone. We are human and we make mistakes. In a professional environment, if you never make mistakes or fail at new tasks, then you are... Continue Reading

Carter's City Council testimony is below: Good Evening, Mayor Millman, and members of the council. Thank you for allowing me to speak tonight. My name is Carter Nelson, and I am speaking on behalf of the Washington Multi-Family Housing Association. We represent over 347,000 rental units in the... Continue Reading

Although the votes aren’t all counted and the election isn’t certified until November 26, we can pretty confidently provide a final wrap-up of what happened. The big question now; what does this mean for the legislature? Both Democrat majorities picked up one seat for 30-19 control... Continue Reading

The Clean Buildings for Washington law (HB 1257), being implemented by the Washington State Department of Commerce, applies to multifamily buildings greater than 20,000 SF. The law includes several requirements to improve energy efficiency including meeting a minimum average energy use intensity... Continue Reading

At a virtual roundtable on October 30, WMFHA Advocacy staff gave an overview of the “new” unlawful detainer process in King County. In addition to the brief overview and current state of the process, the majority of the roundtable was dedicated to getting feedback from members about... Continue Reading

Now that the election is over and we know the makeup of the legislature, we can start to look ahead to the 2025 legislative session. Although how things play out will depend on committee structure and assignments in the House and Senate, to be decided in a few weeks during organization, we do... Continue Reading

Incentive Program (MFTE/IZ/MHA, etc.) Announcement Update Property Contacts Prior to the 2024 Annual Property Certification Reporting Process The Office of Housing (OH) is employing a secure SharePoint site for properties to populate their Annual Property Certification report and upload all... Continue Reading

This is your chance to make your voice heard on the issues that matter most to multifamily housing. On February 6, we're bringing our passionate members to Olympia for a powerful day of advocacy at the State Capitol. Whether you're a seasoned advocate or new to the legislative process, this event... Continue Reading

Last night, Woodinville City Council passed Ordinance 755, which will implement tenant protections. Your Advocacy Team engaged with staff and submitted a letter in opposition, but were unfortunately unsuccessful. Despite the ordinance passing, we were successful in receiving an extended... Continue Reading

As we shared last month, Spokane City Council voted on an ordinance proposing amendments to the rental registry ordinance. This ordinance was passed by council to force compliance and make the $15 registration fee more streamlined, exempting housing authorities and various subsidized programs... Continue Reading

Ryan Makinster, Director of Government Affairs recently attended the Annual Board of Directors Retreat for Up for Growth in New York City. The meeting was an opportunity for industry leaders to touch base and plan for the strategic success of the organization in 2025 and beyond. Up for Growth... Continue Reading

The City of Vancouver will be considering a proposal in the coming months that, if passed, will affect your business; a rental registry referred to as the Rental Habitability Program. WMFHA Director of Government Affairs, Ryan Makinster represented the industry on the Vancouver Rental... Continue Reading

On October 1, Seattle changed their security alarm response policy. Currently, police will not respond to alarms unless there is supporting evidence such as audio, video, eyewitnesses or a panic alarm. This policy is often referred to as verified response. Most security alarm systems do not have... Continue Reading

The Seattle Multi-Family Tax Exemption (MFTE) program is up for reauthorization so now is the time to make your voice heard about the program. What is working, what isn’t and what can make the program better. If you currently participate, are considering participating, or even considering... Continue Reading

Exciting news for the multifamily housing community! Next week, IREM and the Washington Multi-Family Housing Association are joining forces to host a special Lunch & Learn featuring esteemed researcher Gregg Colburn. Gregg has traveled extensively, sharing his insights on the structural... Continue Reading

Your Advocacy Team and a handful of members operating in Tukwila met with Tukwila City staff yesterday to discuss their proposed tenant protections. Our members shared their concerns with the proposal, as well as gave some insight into what housing providers are experiencing across the... Continue Reading

Spokane City Council met on Monday, October 14 and voted on an ordinance proposing amendments to the rental registry ordinance. This ordinance was presented to force compliance and make the $15 registration fee more streamlined, exempting housing authorities and various subsidized programs (such... Continue Reading

The Citizen’s Action Defense Fund (CADF) recently filed a lawsuit against the City of Tacoma challenging its so-called “Landlord Fairness Code” (“LFC”), the onerous and questionable laws adopted due to the Tacoma for All Initiative. According to the lawsuit, the... Continue Reading

The City of Vancouver will be considering two proposals in the coming months that, if passed, will affect your business; a rental registry program and green building codes for multifamily and commercial buildings. The green building code update quietly emerged from a workgroup who intends to... Continue Reading

In response to a lawsuit filed by the Washington Business Property Association (WBPA), which WMFHA financially supported, the City of Kenmore has repealed certain provisions of the tenant protections they passed in 2022. Specifically, to comply with the settlement agreement they repealed their... Continue Reading

Spokane City Council is considering amending the rental registry ordinance to do a few things to force compliance. This proposal will make waiver of the $15 registration fee more streamlined, exempting housing authorities and various subsidized programs (such as HCV and VA vouchers). The changes... Continue Reading

The City of Tukwila is considering adopting tenant protections. Originally discussed in April, Council heard recommendations from their staff again last week. Council decided to bring the conversation back to committee. We have been in contact with staff running the Planning and Development... Continue Reading

As we approach the general election in November, it's crucial to understand the role of the WMFHA Political Action Committee (WMFHA PAC). Our nonpartisan PAC is dedicated to supporting candidates not based on their political party but based on the willingness to advocate for the multifamily... Continue Reading

We’re excited to share that our Executive Director, Nick Marin, is mentioned in a recent USA Today article about the best cities for renters. In this piece, Nick offers expert commentary on the factors renters should consider when deciding where to live and what might make certain cities... Continue Reading

In a heartwarming display of community spirit and generosity, the Washington Multi-Family Housing Association (WMFHA) teamed up with Rebuilding Together to transform the lives of two elderly women in South Seattle. Ruth Garrett and Renee Morgan have lived in their homes for decades, but... Continue Reading

Participating in the National Apartment Association (NAA) Advocacy Academy was an enlightening and transformative experience. The program provided a robust platform to deepen my understanding of the intricate relationship between the multifaceted housing industry and the legislative framework that... Continue Reading

During even years, half of the Senate, all House seats, and select county positions are up for election. Every four years, statewide seats such as Governor, Lieutenant Governor and others are also up. WMFHA focuses on statewide and legislative seats during these years, however there is one local... Continue Reading

WMFHA Director of Government Affairs Ryan Makinster will be joining a panel of industry professionals to discuss the value of coalition driven advocacy efforts. Titled “Strength in Numbers: Lessons Learned in Tacoma Through Effective Advocacy Coalitions,” the panel will also include... Continue Reading

There are two updates in the unlawful detainer arena that we want you to be aware of. We are hopeful that they will offer solutions to the extensive delays you are experiencing in King County Courts. The first is a change to court processes that went into effect yesterday, August 12 and the other... Continue Reading

The city recently formed the Vancouver Rental Habitability Group, a mix of stakeholders including rental housing associations, affordable and market rate housing providers, tenant advocates, eviction and tenant protection attorneys as well as residents with lived experience. Our industry is... Continue Reading

The unlawful detainer quagmire in King County has gotten so bad that housing providers across the state and even outside the state have become aware of it. And it is not just the industry that has taken note. The Seattle City Council has referenced it in meetings, King County Councilmember Reagan... Continue Reading

Last month, we held another fun and Corks, Forks & Brews, this year in Liberty Lake. We had the privilege and honor of hosting a few community partners and elected officials at this event. State Representative Leonard Christian, who is running for State Senate in District 4, retiring State... Continue Reading

The primary election has come and gone, but we aren’t done yet! From now until November it is go time for campaigns across the state. Now that we can see where all our key races stand, we will be sharing information on business-friendly candidates that we are supporting and hope you will... Continue Reading

President Biden called on Congress to pass legislation forcing landlords with over 50 units in their portfolio to cap rent increases on existing units at 5% or risk losing federal tax breaks (faster depreciation write-offs). This would affect over 20 million units in the U.S. Rent control has... Continue Reading

We had the pleasure of hosting elected officials at both of our Tapas and Topics events this month. In Everett, we welcomed Mayor Cassie Franklin, who updated attendees on the impressive growth Everett has seen in recent years, as well as some exciting things coming up in the near future. On the... Continue Reading

Advocacy is a team sport. Like any team sport, success requires good coaching and advanced training that aims to develop a diverse and deep team bench with the knowledge, capabilities, and team fluidity needed to perform on game day. That’s where NAA’s Advocacy Academy comes into the... Continue Reading

One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish. The WMFHA Board of Directors recently voted to endorse two candidates for the state legislature: Senator Annette Cleveland for Senate in District 49 and Jim Henderson for House in District 26. Senator Annette Cleveland is a pragmatic legislator who does... Continue Reading

On Wednesday July 10, the Seattle Housing and Human Services Committee, chaired by Councilmember Cathy Moore heard from housing providers about the difficulties they are currently experiencing. After open public testimony, mostly by housing providers with a few tenant advocates, a select panel of... Continue Reading

The Washington Supreme Court has agreed to review whether the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act's (CARES) eviction notice requirement only applies to tenants late on rent, or all tenants including those who have violated other lease provisions or who pose a threat to the property,... Continue Reading

We are excited to have a few team members celebrate summer in Spokane Valley tomorrow! Your WMFHA Advocacy Team is working hard to incorporate more of our elected officials and partners to our events, for you to know and get to know, and for them to see the faces of our industry. We are looking... Continue Reading

“Feel The Love”…that was the theme of this year’s National Apartment Association’s annual Apartmentalize conference hosted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania the third week of June. The theme seemed appropriate, not just because it was held in the city of brotherly (and... Continue Reading

Hannah Smith is a Senior Property Manager with Pillar Properties and is a part of WMFHA's Kari Anderson Emerging Leaders first year cohort. Hannah had the opportunity to attend the National Apartment Association's Apartmentalize Conference in June, so we asked her to share a bit of her... Continue Reading

Spokane landlords will no longer have the authority to prohibit tenants from installing air conditioners following a unanimous vote by the Spokane City Council on Monday. The ordinance, introduced by Councilwoman Kitty Klitzke in May, goes into effect in mid-July, coinciding with the anticipated... Continue Reading

Living in the Pacific Northwest, particularly in Seattle, we often take pride in our reputation as a beacon of progress and acceptance, especially concerning social issues. However, it's crucial to acknowledge that the journey towards inclusivity, particularly for the LGBTQ+ community, has and... Continue Reading

On Wednesday, May 29, the King County Superior Court adopted an emergency amendment, effective immediately, to LCR 40.1(b)(1)(L), for unlawful detainer actions where noncompliance by the defendant is alleged to... Continue Reading

From May 21-23, WMFHA staff, members and colleagues gathered for the Virtual Legal Symposium. This event is an annual education opportunity that highlights best practices in the legal area of our industry. From the unlawful detainer process to tenant screening, legal notices to tenant... Continue Reading

On Wednesday, June 12, Division II of the Washington Court of Appeals published an opinion that will affect stipulated landlord/tenant agreements in Division II, Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Kitsap, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, Skamania, Thurston, and Wahkiakum... Continue Reading

On June 6, prominent leaders in the Seattle business community gathered at the AGC building in South Lake Union for a reception to meet and support Seattle City Council member Tanya Woo. As an at-large member, representing all of Seattle, CM Woo is an important part of the new council majority... Continue Reading

96 *|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|* Stipulated Agreement Opinion On Wednesday, June 12, Division II of the Washington Court of Appeals published an opinion that will affect stipulated... Continue Reading

Earlier this spring, WMFHA collaborated with Evergreen Goodwill to offer the Apartment Maintenance Pathways Program. The program is targeted to at-risk youth and those not on traditional career paths between 18-24 years of age. Students attend a 4 week hands-on training that utilizes the National... Continue Reading

On Wednesday, May 29, the King County Superior Court adopted an emergency amendment, effective immediately, to LCR 40.1(b)(1)(L), for unlawful detainer actions where noncompliance by the defendant is alleged to... Continue Reading

The WMFHA GA team recently participated in the bi-annual Washington Real Estate Coalition (WREC) meeting in Renton. WREC is made up of real estate trade associations, industry lobbyists and interested small business representatives. The group met to discuss a recap of the 2024 legislative session... Continue Reading

At the May Government Affairs Committee (GAC) meeting members discussed ADUs on multi-family 0roperties, a Seattle initiative to bring balance back to the city and NAA grassroots advocacy. In 2023, the legislature passed HB 1110, the middle housing bill, which was intended to be a step towards... Continue Reading

A group of multi-family and commercial property managers, developers, owners, real estate agents, association staff and other stakeholders recently met to discuss the challenges of rental housing and policies in City of Seattle and the awful unlawful detainer process in the King County court... Continue Reading

WMFHA staff and GAC member Mack Mayo, Paine Hamblen LLP, recently hosted a Spokane Tenant Protections Roundtable to educate members on the tenant protections passed in 2023 and the disjointed implementation by the city. Although in effect since mid-2023, some principal parts of the required... Continue Reading

On May 14, Up for Growth Action sent a letter of support for H.R. 3507, the Yes in My Backyard (YIMBY) Act to the House Financial Services committee. WMFHA along with a long list of real estate housing and industry stakeholders signed the letter applauding the committee for moving the bill to... Continue Reading

The City of Olympia recently passed another round of tenant protections. Under this new ordinance, housing providers must notify tenants of their right to relocation assistance when increasing rent by more than 7%. The amount of relocation assistance they are then required to pay is two and a half... Continue Reading

Despite opposition and concern from our organization and members, as well as members from other organizations, a new ordinance requiring housing providers give residents a minimum of 180 days’ notice when increasing their rent passed in Spokane, with one amendment. If you raise rent less... Continue Reading

Your GA Team will be presenting as part of WMFHA’s Virtual Legal Symposium on all things Tenant Protections, so if you’ve been curious or confused on all the changing laws and regulations- you don’t want to miss this! Tune in on Tuesday, May 21 at 11:00am to learn more and ask... Continue Reading

Election season is upon us! I’m sure by now you’ve seen a political ad or two on TV or in the mail- a bummer if you find those annoying because they will continue leading up to Washington’s primary on August 6. So why should you care? Sometimes it’s easy, or even... Continue Reading

As a speaker at WMFHA's EdCon East, and as a Community Manager in the Spokane area, I had the honor of not only sharing insights on social media marketing but also immersing myself in an environment brimming with innovation, collaboration, and industry expertise. EdCon East is a wonderful... Continue Reading

Eastside Real Estate Symposium The WMFHA advocacy team recently attended the 2024 Eastside Real Estate Symposium hosted by the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce. The annual event highlights commercial real estate trends, housing supply and affordability and broader economic market signals. The event... Continue Reading

With legislative session over, the Government Affairs Committee (GAC), recently turned its focus to a few important election year issues; the Ban the Gas Ban Initiative, the Eastern Washington redistricting quagmire, and the campaign to elect Senator Mark Mullet as Washington’s next... Continue Reading

If you build it, they will come. Whether that refers to WMFHA’s recent Legislative Session Wrap-Up Webinar or the robust state level advocacy program, we’ll take it. Senators Annette (D-Vancouver) and Chris Gildon (R-Puyallup) and Representatives Andrew Barkis (R-Lacey) and Amy Walen... Continue Reading

The WMFHA PAC works to get multi-family friendly officials elected to office. With damaging legislation on the rise, WMFHA PAC is more important than ever. At a recent WMFHA PAC meeting members voted to financially support the following campaigns and groups: Jim Henderson – LD 26... Continue Reading

WMFHA Director of Government Affairs, Ryan Makinster, was recently named to the Up for Growth Action Board of Directors. The group is singularly focused on leading federal legislation to eliminate barriers and increase resources for housing production. The board represents expertise across all... Continue Reading

Last week, Carter was in Eastern Washington alongside other WMFHA team members to attend EdCon East, as well as the Eastern Executive Council meeting. While there, she provided a legislative session and election preparation update as well as engaged members as to what they are seeing in their area... Continue Reading

A new proposal requiring housing providers give renters a minimum of 180 days’ notice when increasing their rent made the news on Monday in Spokane. Currently, housing providers must give tenants 60 days’ notice for rent increases. Councilmember Paul Dillon announced this proposal to... Continue Reading

As dawn breaks over the vibrant cityscape of Seattle, anticipation fills the air as property management professionals from across the region converge for the highly anticipated EdCon hosted by Washington Multifamily Housing Association or WMFHA as we all know them. For community managers like... Continue Reading

On March 26, WMFHA hosted an educational conference in Seattle for all multi-family professionals. Through the WFMHA Emerging Leaders Program and the generosity of my employer, I was able to attend EdCon for the first time this year. Here’s that story. The melodic hum of an iPhone alarm... Continue Reading

Each year the National Apartment Association (NAA) hosts Advocate- their annual advocacy conference- where NAA members gather at Capitol Hill to network, to learn issues, and collectively take action. All WMFHA members are automatically members of NAA. As Congress settles into Capitol Hill, this... Continue Reading

As of March 7, Legislative Session in the state of Washington officially come to a close. After a hard fought 60 days with the multifamily housing industry at the forefront of a couple of high visibility bills, we came out victorious. The highlight was once again stopping rent control in it's... Continue Reading

We are stronger and more successful when we work together and bring more lived experience in to one room. In DC, we connected with association members and leadership from all over the country. We are seeing a lot of the same policy ideas throughout the nation, and most relevant for us, on the west... Continue Reading

Last year, the City of Spokane joined jurisdictions across the state in passing additional regulations on the housing industry. We are now starting to receive feedback on the effects of this policy from our members. Included in these negative effects is the frustration with encouraging residents... Continue Reading

We are already actively engaged in the Washington gubernatorial race, as well as following many other races across our state as candidates announce. This is where the WMFHA PAC plays a pivotal role for us. Our PAC dollars go to champions of the multifamily housing and those who make sure we have a... Continue Reading

Earlier this month, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell announced a proposal that would vastly change housing throughout Seattle in the next 20 years. The “One Seattle Plan” would put Seattle in line with a bill adopted by the state legislature in 2023. The bill – HB 1110 – is... Continue Reading

Legislative Update 9 - The End of Session Continue Reading

In February, 16 dedicated Leasing Professionals invested in 3 days of training to obtain their National Apartment Association Certified Apartment Leasing Professional (CALP) Credentials. This provided them an opportunity to learn and sharpen their sales skills. The students arrived each day at... Continue Reading

Over the last few months, WMFHA, under the National Apartment Association’s (NAA) lead and with support from other multi-family housing associations and housing providers (including Weidner Apartment Homes, GRE Downtowner LLC, and the Apartment Owners Association of California, Inc.), was given the Continue Reading

As the Washington State Legislature starts to wrap up, everything starts going at an even faster rate during a short session. This week we saw what is called the Opposite House of Origin Policy Committee Cutoff, which means that if the bill was originally introduced in the House of Representatives... Continue Reading

WMFHA and PAH release rent control reports Continue Reading

Your voice matters, even if you are not sure how your experience can add to the conversation. Case in point, two supplier members Katie Phelan-Chostner, 1UP Floors, and Chris Dukelow, CredHub, knocked it out of their park with their recent testimony in Olympia. Their testimony was instrumental in... Continue Reading

The most bills ever to be presented in a legislative session in Washington, short or long. That’s a lot to keep track of- but our team is on it! We are a few weeks from knowing what bills will become law, and what will go away. Do you want to hear an overview on all the things that went down... Continue Reading

We had great representation from a few members on the eastside of the state, which helped us get meetings with our legislators from east of the mountains. Special thank you to Libby Patton, Amanda Gunn, Michael Sinitsa and Tim Braun. Thank you for making the trip and for representing our industry... Continue Reading

Our 2024 Day on the Hill was the biggest yet and proven very successful! Continue Reading

Hopefully you’ve been receiving all the Action Alerts and updates from our GA team. Those alerts- and our ability to continue the fight against bad policy- is largely supported by PAC contributions. We work to maintain relationships with legislators outside of legislative session, and the... Continue Reading

Beginning this month, the City of Tacoma is hosting seven tutorial sessions covering the City's updated Rental Housing Code, the new Landlord Fairness Code, how those codes work together, and what it all means for anyone who owns, operates, or rents residential property within the Tacoma City... Continue Reading

Every year, to incentivize NAA PAC contributions from the general membership, NAA puts together a sweepstakes that offers some awesome prizes. This year’s prizes are pretty jaw dropping…you could win a trip to Greece or a luxury Broadway trip to New York City! For just $25 apiece or... Continue Reading

House of Origin Cutoff, what's alive, what's hanging on, and what's dead. Continue Reading

Fiscal cutoff is a passed, but some priority bills are still alive. Continue Reading

The Partnership for Affordable Housing Shares Economic Report - Rent Growth Cap Will be Detrimental to Washington Seattle, WASH. -- (February 7, 2024) – The Partnership for Affordable Housing (PAH), a 501c (4) non-profit coalition of housing providers and business groups in... Continue Reading

The inaugural Kari Anderson' Emerging Leaders Program started off strong in January! This first-ever cohort is comprised of 20 diverse members representing different companies, positions, ages and experience levels. Each member was identified as a current and future leader that will be on the... Continue Reading

Week four, and policy committee cutoff is behind us. Also another successful day on the hill with over 150 members joining us to educate legislators on our industry and how proposed legislation will affect our ability to provide housing to Washingtonians. Good news is that SB 5961, the Senate... Continue Reading

WMFHA members answered the call to ADVOCATE! This past Tuesday (January 30th), over 140 WMFHA members and staff spent the day at the Capitol in Olympia meeting with 66 legislators from the House and Senate, and the Lieutenant Governor of Washington, to advocate on behalf of the multi-family... Continue Reading

Week three is done and the first committee cut-off date looms large. The policy committee cutoff date is next Friday, which means that any bills that are not required to implement the budget need to be out of the committees in their house of origin by Friday or are dead (although some shenanigans... Continue Reading

If you or your company has made a PAC contribution from a corporate account, Washington law requires a “Certification of Contribution” to be completed. You or your accounting department will receive this... Continue Reading

Last year, the City of Spokane joined jurisdictions across the state in passing additional regulations on the housing industry. We are now starting to receive feedback on the effects of this policy from our members. Included in these negative effects is the frustration with encouraging residents... Continue Reading

The 2024 Legislative Session convened on Monday January 8 and will run for 60 days through March 7 at midnight. With the short session, everything is starting sooner and moving faster. 491 bills and resolutions were pre-filed in the House and Senate, with the majority of topics outside the scope... Continue Reading

Your advocacy team and fellow industry leaders had no time to rest at the start of this session. With a House and Senate version of rent control scheduled for hearings in the first week, the team and our stakeholder partners had to activate on short notice to address the biggest threat to our... Continue Reading

If you missed the 2024 Legislative Preview, we have you covered. On January 3, Senator Mark Mullet and Representative April Connors joined the WMFHA advocacy team for our session preview webinar. In addition to hearing from them about the upcoming session, the advocacy team provided a brief... Continue Reading

Join us for a pre-briefing webinar tomorrow to hear about the legislative process and what to expect at Day on the Hill! If you are registered for Day on the Hill, don’t forget that you need to either tune in live, or watch the recording prior to January 30. This will allow attendees to be... Continue Reading

We all know what Wednesdays are famous for...HUMP DAY! That day in the middle of the week when the upcoming weekend begins to come into focus. Here at your association, we are going to give you another reason to get excited about Wednesdays. In 2024 we are introducing WMFHA Wednesdays, a new... Continue Reading

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Allowing certain types of maintenance experience to substitute for work experience required to be eligible to take the examination for the residential maintenance specialty electrician certificate.. Bill Information Sponsors: Goehner, Springer Companion: N/A Status: N/A What the bill... Continue Reading

Supporting Washington's clean energy economy and transitioning to a clean, affordable, and reliable energy future. Bill Information Sponsors: Doglio, Fitzgibbon, Berry, Alvarado, Bateman, Ramel, Peterson, Lekanoff, Hackney, Macri, Kloba Companion: SB 5562 Status: (H) Rules What the bill... Continue Reading

Supporting Washington's clean energy economy and transitioning to a clean, affordable, and reliable energy future. Bill Information Sponsors: Nguyen, Lovelett, Hunt, Keiser, Liias, Saldaña, Wellman, Wilson, C. Companion: HB 1589 Status: (S) Ways & Means What the bill... Continue Reading

Establishing a housing court pilot program. Bill Information Sponsors: Kuderer, Lovelett, Nguyen, Nobles, Wilson, C. Companion: N/A Status: N/A What the bill does: Creates a housing court pilot program Latest Action Alert: N/A Talking Points: N/A Notes: N/A Continue Reading

At the Government Affairs Committee meeting on December 14th, members voted to adopt our 2024 Legislative Agenda. The document is a high-level policy one-pager intended to guide our advocacy efforts in Olympia, inform our members of our policy positions as well as the public and elected officials.... Continue Reading

Senator Mark Mullet and Representative Spencer Hitchins will be joining the WMFHA advocacy team for our pre-session webinar on January 3rd from 9:00-10:30 am. In addition to hearing from the legislatures about the expect from the 2024 session, the advocacy tram will also be providing a brief... Continue Reading

Despite significant opposition from WMFHA members and others in the multifamily housing industry, Shoreline City Council approved a new ordinance on December 11 that established tenant protections for renters in Shoreline. While this wasn’t a win for us, it showcased valuable member... Continue Reading

Last week, part of the WMFHA team popped over to Spokane to meet with the Executive Council and to celebrate the holidays at the Giving Gala, benefitting Vanessa Behan. It was a productive trip consisting of planning for next year and a very successful Gala, as well as a Day on the Hill pitch. ... Continue Reading

What is the WMFHA PAC? And more importantly- why should you care? Continue Reading

Shoreline City Council passed tenant protections on December 11, despite significant opposition from housing providers in Shoreline, WMFHA, and other housing associations . This new ordinance establishes new protections for Shoreline tenants, in addition to those already provided under the... Continue Reading

The City of Tacoma Landlord Fairness Code Initiative, formerly referred to as Measure 1, went into affect on December 8. The city recently added or updated a number of resources on their site including the required forms. In addition to participating in city and housing provider led meetings... Continue Reading

On Sunday, November 12, a group of WMFHA members met with Representatives Alex Ramel and David Hackney to discuss solutions to the current housing crisis and to provide feedback on Rep. Ramel’s HB 1389 “Rent Control” legislation. The group represented a broad swath of our... Continue Reading

Although election results aren’t officially certified until November 28, for practical purposes all races have been decided. Although the status quo of many councils has been maintained, there are a few changes that should have a significant impact. For example, we know that Seattle City... Continue Reading

Olympia’s City Council heard a proposal for a rental registry and inspection program at their meeting on November 14. Continue Reading

Shoreline’s City Council is hearing a proposal for tenant protections at their November 20 meeting. Continue Reading

Brittany Taylor, CAM, CAPS, was ALL smiles at the 2023 Emerald Awards as she walked away with Credential Holder of the Year. This isn't the first time either, she also won an Emerald Award in 2021 for Assistant Property Manager of the Year. Currently, she is the Community Director for The Renton... Continue Reading

Deputy Mayor Kevin Schilling recently joined the WMFHA Government Affairs Committee to give an update on the Burien City Council and the state of housing in the city. He highlighted numerous affordable housing projects recently opened or approved, highlighting the success of public/private... Continue Reading

Last week, NAA President and CEO Bob Pinnegar, CAE, informed local GA staff and leadership that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a notice of public rulemaking, which would prohibit “hidden and falsely advertised fees” and require all-in pricing across industries, including... Continue Reading

On Tuesday, October 10, the Seattle Chamber Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce released the latest findings from “The Index”, it bi-annual survey that gauges public sentiment on the quality of life in Seattle. The poll is instrumental in city council campaign efforts and points to... Continue Reading

The WMFHA Board of Directors recently voted to endorse a number of local candidates for city offices. Continue Reading

The No on Tacoma Measure 1 committee, which WMFHA is engaged in, recently released series of ads encouraging Tacoma voters to voter down Measure 1. Continue Reading

On Tuesday September 19, WMFHA hosted a webinar educating attendees on the state’s recently announced Washington EV Charging Program (WAEVCP). And it is already showing success. WMFHA member LED Trail has already met with 5 members on 6 projects to discuss eligibility and planning for... Continue Reading

Your GA team has been staying busy with events all over the region. Continue Reading

As we are gearing up for session in January, your GA team is meeting with legislators all over the state. Continue Reading

Tatiana Hubbard is someone that any instructor would refer to as a "star student." In 2022 she obtained her CALP (Certified Apartment Leasing Professional) credential and she just completed the CAM (Certified Apartment Manager) course work in September of 2023. Every day of class, she showed up... Continue Reading

At Washington Apartment Outlook (WAO) this morning, WMFHA’s 2023 President, Tali Reiner, presented Senator Mark Mullet (D-Issaquah) with our 2023 Legislator of the Year Award. This is the highest honor given to an active legislator from WMFHA in recognition and acknowledgement of their... Continue Reading

When the COVID-19 pandemic first hit the Northwest, Said Mohammed knew it would have major consequences in his community. In Seattle’s Yesler Terrace neighborhood, where he lives, Mohammed worried his neighbors, many of them immigrants, would face barriers to online resources, but as an... Continue Reading

As the back-to-school season arrives, it is crucial to address the issue of digital equity in apartment complexes. In today's increasingly digital world, access to technology and the internet is vital for students' educational success. Unfortunately, many families living in apartment complexes... Continue Reading

On Tuesday September 19, WMFHA hosted a webinar educating attendees on the state’s recently announced Washington EV Charging Program (WAEVCP). Created through $64 million of state funding, the program includes $28.8 million of grant funding to support multi-family housing infrastructure,... Continue Reading

On Wednesday August 30, Pierce County Superior Court Judge Timothy Ashcraft ruled that “Measure Two,” the city of Tacoma’s tenant protection measure competing against “Measure 1 (Tacoma Initiative 2023-1),” be removed from the November ballot. With this legal... Continue Reading

The Eastside Business Alliance is the region's most effective organization for electing thoughtful, nonpartisan, pro-jobs leaders on the Eastside. Ryan Makinster, our Director of Government Affairs, sits on the board of the EBA on behalf of WMFHA. Because of our involvement in the EBA, our... Continue Reading

After a brief break for August, our Government Affairs Committee was back in full force last week. The committee voted to contribute to a NAIOP Washington campaign to support an effort to forego the 10-15% energy code efficiency “bump” above state mandated requirements. The group... Continue Reading

Our Government Affairs team is traveling all over the state meeting with legislators before session begins. We are excited to be in Eastern Washington Monday and Tuesday of next week and to engage our membership operating in that part of the state. We are hosting two Advocate Meet & Greets,... Continue Reading

On February 27, the Spokane city council passed two tenant protection ordinances, C36330 and C36366. C36330, which created a rental registration program that included a $15/door fee went into effect 30 days later. C36366, included the creation of a Spokane specific “portable... Continue Reading

With HB 1074, which changed how you collect, record, process and return security deposits fully in place, we thought this would be a good time to offer a few things for you to consider and a request. Lease renewals are new leases so they will need to comply with the requirements of HB... Continue Reading

The NAA Click & Lease Program will be updated on September 27 to include several changes to the lease forms. The Release Notes, which are accessible when logged into your NAA Click & Lease Program, include copies of these upcoming forms. Form changes listed here. Should you have any... Continue Reading

The Seattle Office of Housing has updated its website to include the current Renters Insurance Allowance. The website now links to one easy to read document that includes the most current Renters Insurance and Utility Allowance. If you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to... Continue Reading

As part of our efforts to address the rising cost of compliance and increasing regulatory oversight, our WMFHA GA staff have been active in a stakeholder group that seeks to achieve a reasonable energy code as adopted by the Washington State Building Code Council (SBCC). The group is made up of... Continue Reading

On Monday September 18, WMFHA hosted Senator Mark Mullet, candidate for Washington Governor, in our offices. The event was attended by Board of Directors, Government Affairs and Political Action Committee members. It provided a chance for Senator Mullet to explain his platform, support for the... Continue Reading

As we have seen over the last 12 months, political action is not only required at the state level, but in city council chambers as well. We cannot remain solely focused on Olympia, we need to continue to expand our election efforts to the local level, as well as by endorsing and supporting county... Continue Reading

Is there anywhere better than Seattle in August? We sure do love to show off our beautiful Emerald City in the summer. WMFHA had the opportunity to showcase the Pacific Northwest for a national audience on August 8th – 10th when we hosted the National Apartment Association’s Advanced... Continue Reading

WMFHA hosted our largest Supplier Success class ever on August 30th. We had 29 excited and engaged supplier partners join us at our 1Up Training Center in Renton. The Supplier Success Course offers an overview of the apartment industry and recommends ways that suppliers can maximize... Continue Reading

WMFHA’s Board of Directors, at their meeting on July 20th, approved a new version of the association’s bylaws, a 22-page document that serves as the organization’s operating manual. Crafted and revised for over 6 months by Nick Marin, at the direction of the Executive Board of... Continue Reading

The Board of Directors of the Washington Multi-Family Housing Association (WMFHA) voted and approved the association’s endorsement of Senator Mark Mullet (D-Issaquah) for Governor. With this endorsement, WMFHA will be actively supporting Sen. Mark Mullet’s 2024 gubernatorial campaign... Continue Reading

On Friday July 28, King 5 news reporter Erica Zucco interviewed WMFHA Director of Government Affairs Ryan Makinster for story titled “Debate continues as Seattle rent control measure approaches vote.” The story, which aired the same day and re-aired prior to the Tuesday August 1 vote,... Continue Reading

On Tuesday, August 1st, multi-family government affairs, affiliate executives and legal professionals descended upon the Omni Hotel in downtown Chicago to discuss current legislative and legal issues, exchange ideas and promote best practices to support our industry locally, statewide, and at the... Continue Reading

On August 1, the Seattle City Council, by a vote of 5-2, killed Councilmember Sawant’s ill-conceived rent control “trigger” law, ordinance CB 120606 with Councilmembers Nelson, Herbold, Strauss, Lewis, Peterson, and Juarez voting against passage, Mosqueda excused, and Sawant and... Continue Reading

On August 2nd, Tacoma for All, a renters’ rights group, filed suit against the City of Tacoma, Pierce County, and the county auditor to have “Measure Two”, the city of Tacoma’s competing tenant protection measure, removed from the November ballot. Last month, the... Continue Reading

WMFHA’s Political Action Committee (PAC) supports candidates who share our views on industry issues. Our PAC gives us opportunities to gain access to elected officials and educate them on the positive and negative consequences of proposed legislation. Included with your membership renewal... Continue Reading

The 2023 election could be a watershed for politics in Seattle. Due to growing frustration with the Council’s ideological, rather than solution oriented, policy decisions, the majority of Seattle voters want a change. Couple that with 7 seats up for grabs, with a majority of those being... Continue Reading

In addition to Seattle, the WMFHA PAC and GAC have designated three other cities as priority jurisdictions: Bellevue, Spokane, and Tacoma. The primary results in these jurisdictions are below. Bellevue No Primary Races Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown ... Continue Reading

WMFHA PAC has also listed a few jurisdictions as ones to watch. After reviewing the primary results, the committee will decide which, if any races, WMFHA should participate in. BurienPosition 2Linda Akey 31.88%Cydney Moore (i) 28.27% Position... Continue Reading

“I do not know what flavors each of you are. But y’all are lifesavers”. This sweet sentiment was one of many heartfelt remarks made by Mrs. Davis as her home was transformed from a damaged safety risk to an enjoyable living space for her and her extended family. Continue Reading

Jeff and Tamara are planet friendly with a passion for finding items that can be reused.  One person’s Junk may be someone else’s treasure. Continue Reading

Patrick Moss (center of the front row) with his 2023 CAMT class Patrick Moss needed a little extra gas money back in 2016, so he took a temp job as a porter/maintenance technician. That temporary job became permanent and now he is a Senior Service Technician with Greystar based in Seattle... Continue Reading

Important Update on Seattle’s Rent Control Trigger Ordinance WMFHA’s government affairs team has maintained a very watchful eye on Seattle City Councilmember (CM) Kshama Sawant’s rent control trigger ordinance, playing a significant part in the lobbying that has occurred... Continue Reading

Dear members of the Apartment Industry, On May 30, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) issued a Request for Input on tenant protections. This exercise could result in the adoption of a range of negative policies including national rent control, a “source of income” mandate... Continue Reading

Tacoma Tenant Protections Take Effect July 24, 2023 Continue Reading

Although WMFHA has not endorsed Seattle city council candidates for the primary, GA staff have been active in candidate interviews through the Seattle Chamber and other loosely affiliated business groups. Through the process business leaders have recognized stand outs in each race that align with... Continue Reading

The Washington Multi-Family Housing Association (WMFHA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Carter Nelson as its new Public Affairs Manager, effective July 10, 2023. Carter brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of housing policy and advocacy to her role at WMFHA. As Public... Continue Reading

What happens if you host a webinar, and nobody comes? We don’t know because we had almost 100 attendees for the 2023 Legislative Update Webinar. On Wednesday, July 12 WMFHA Education and Government Affairs team members updated members on the recent bills passed during the 2023 legislative... Continue Reading

On Monday June 19, WMFHA GA staff joined fellow real estate industry advocates to discuss priorities for the upcoming legislative session. Hosted by the Washington Business Property Association, the annual WREC meeting is a chance for real estate and property rights advocates to discuss concerns... Continue Reading

Peak leasing season in the U.S. is between May and August when there are the most residents looking for apartment homes. This time is hugely important for the multi-family industry. Standing out from the competition is important year-round, but it becomes essential during the summer... Continue Reading

“When I was president, it was a different day. The bulk of the skill set was being able to sell our product: membership to WMFHA. Now the product is self-sustaining; it’s an empire.” Kari explains. “I can only stand back and be proud of all that has changed." Continue Reading

Washington State was well represented at NAA"s annual conference! Continue Reading

WMFHA’s turning twenty (20) this year, and our staff and leadership couldn’t be more excited to celebrate the best way we know how – with a grandiose #WMFabulous Birthday Bash! Continue Reading

Now that the 2023 legislative session is complete, and we have had time to digest all that happened, WMFHA will be hosting a Legislative Wrap-Up Webinar on July 12. The webinar will give a brief overview of what transpired during the session, including the failure of several rent control and... Continue Reading

The summary of the Washington Residential Landlord-Tenant Act was created by Joe Puckett, founding Board Member and former Director of Government Affairs. Each year, to coincide with the Virtual Legal Symposium (VSL), this document is updated, summarizing new laws passed by the Washington... Continue Reading

Seattle City Council Member Sara Nelson will join the WMFHA Government Affairs Committee on Thursday June 15 from 12:30-2 to give an update on industry issues in Seattle and to hear members’ concerns about current processes in Seattle. She will update members on her role as Vice-Chair of... Continue Reading

Mike Kingsella, CEO of Up for Growth will join the WMFHA Government Affairs Committee at its June meeting on Thursday, June 15 from 12:30-2 to discuss the partnership of WMFHA and Up for Growth and give an update on the current initiatives Up for Growth is executing. WMFHA and Up for Growth have... Continue Reading

Tacoma recently had a work session on proposed “Tenant Protections” legislation. Although it is not currently scheduled for first reading before council, that action is expected to happen at an upcoming council meeting, possibly as early as next week. Ryan Makinster, Director of... Continue Reading

WMFHA along with a number of trade association and multi-family developers sent a letter to the Kirkland Planning Commission highlighting concerns NE 85th St Station Area Plan Affordable Housing Requirements as proposed by ARCH and city staff. Specifically, the coalition is concerned with the... Continue Reading

WMFHA and NAA Seeking Case Studies for White House Resident-Centered Housing Challenge Continue Reading

As a gay man in my forties, I am now at a place where I am comfortable with who I am, but it took a lot of years to get to this point. Continue Reading

How is it already almost June?! Continue Reading

On behalf of the Board of Directors, I thank you for your membership in this association.  At last month's Business Exchange, it was evident to me that we have a vibrant and proud association and a wonderful WMFHA Team.  Continue Reading

Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, observed annually in May, celebrates and honors the contributions, achievements, and rich cultural heritage of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in our communities. Here at WMFHA, we are taking time to celebrate the heritage and... Continue Reading

“I'm proud that I started at the bottom as a leasing agent and learned the industry from the ground up. I think it’s proof that with tenacity and grit, as well as being connected to those that can champion you with their influence, you can accomplish things that you never thought were possible.” Continue Reading

Well, we can finally check off the 2023 legislative session and say that we had a pretty successful run this year. What started out as a pretty nerve-racking session with many bills introduced that took direct aim at our industry, ended up being a fairly benign session with only a few bills... Continue Reading

This summary of the Washington Residential Landlord-Tenant Act was created by Joe Puckett, founding Board Member and former Director of Government Affairs. Each year, to coincide with the Virtual Legal Symposium (VSL), this document is updated, summarizing new laws passed by the Washington... Continue Reading

May 19 is the filing deadline for local, city and county, elected races. Although WMFHA has traditionally focused mostly on state races, with recent actions at city and county councils, it has become imperative that we, as an association, start becoming more active in these races. The WMFHA PAC... Continue Reading

The Government Affairs Committee (GAC) created two ad hoc subcommittees, the Seattle Economic Displacement Relocation Assistance (EDRA) and Required Notification committees. The EDRA subcommittee is tasked with discussing appeals and implementation of the Economic Displacement Relocation... Continue Reading

The Seattle Office of Housing has updated their requirements for “holding deposits” for MFTE units after receiving feedback from housing providers. As of April 2021, MFTE communities were only able to collect a holding deposit of $100 for MFTE units upon application. In addition,... Continue Reading

Seattle Councilmember Kshama Sawant is urging her supports to sign a petition to pass rent control in Seattle and is drafting an ordinance so it can be rubber stamped by her Sustainability and Renter’s Rights Committee before moving to the full council. Although it wouldn’t... Continue Reading

We are still accepting candidates for the Public Affairs Manager position at WMFHA. This position supports our association’s visible and proactive government affairs engagement with priority jurisdictions throughout Washington State, working with elected officials, stakeholders, and public... Continue Reading

On Tuesday March 21, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that s key portion of a Seattle law meant to guard against housing discrimination is unconstitutional. In their ruling, they found that barring landlords from asking prospective tenants about “any arrest record, conviction... Continue Reading

Shelby Bosch is a GO-GETTER! Since joining the multi-family industry in October of 2021, she has earned not 1 but 2 National Apartment Association Credentials. Continue Reading

To no one’s surprise, they’ve executed an incredibly impressive amount of our yearly goals through the first quarter of the year with a lengthy and impressive list of achievements. They include:  Continue Reading

Dear Members, Thank you for being part of our association. As housing providers, we have a unique opportunity to connect with people on a very personal level. I still remember the excitement I felt when I leased my first apartment over sixteen years ago. As this year’s Board... Continue Reading

n only 7 weeks, 2 management companies, 33 suppliers, 100 new properties joined the WMFHA family!  Continue Reading

With less than 4 days left in session, it looks like we only have one major bill left in play, HB 1628, otherwise known as the “REET increase bill.” The removal of the state pre-emption on local rent caps did not reappear, nor did the multiple versions of extended notification for... Continue Reading

On Tuesday, Seattle Ctty Council passed a cap of $10 on late fees for rent. The proposal by Councilmember Kshama Sawant had been amended in committee, to 1.5% or $50 flat fee, by Councilmember Sara Nelson, but was amended back to the original proposal during the full council meeting. Although... Continue Reading

A broad coalition of interest groups and associations, including WMFHA, have been working together for the past month. The group has taken a multi-pronged approach to confronting the REET increase legislation under consideration in Olympia. In addition to the multimedia campaign and commercial... Continue Reading

During the week of March 27, WMFHA staff and several members traveled to Washington, DC for the annual Advocate conference hosted by NAA. In addition to the NAA board meeting, that focused on policy and advocacy issues, NAA members and more specifically WMFHA members, spent a day on the hill... Continue Reading

In February, Partnership for Affordable Housing (PAH), a coalition aligned to fight rent control, developed a new campaign to address the ren control efforts under consideration in Olympia. PAH also exists to fight rent control at all levels in Washington, including any effort to pass a statewide... Continue Reading

WMFHA Members Step Up Big to Support NAAPAC Every year, NAA asks local affiliates to support its federal advocacy efforts through its “Fund our Future” program. The minimum suggested annual contribution is based on affiliate membership size. With a minimum suggested contribution of... Continue Reading

On March 27th, the Spokane City Council overrode Mayor Nadine Woodward’s veto of C36366, paving the way for the ordinances to take affect April 26. However, both bills are dependent on the city putting into place a myriad of programs to enforce the new laws, create and manage the funds and... Continue Reading

On the recommendation of the Government Affairs Committee (GAC) the WMFA Board of Directors (BOD) recently created a permanent position for an Eastern Washington Representative on the GAC. Although the committee doesn’t have designated seats, generally, the GAC and BOD felt it was important... Continue Reading

On April 11, the Seatac City Council passed Ordinance #23-1009 which added most of the tenant protections contained in the “ARCH” proposal. There were a number of amendments, with 5 being adopted. The specifics: 120 day notice for 3% increase, 180 day notice for 8%... Continue Reading

Recently, Seattle has started charging an $85 filing feel to appeal EDRA applications. After review, this is allowed by ordinance. It must be noted that an appeal won’t be considered until the fee has been paid which must be filed within 10 days of the directors decision on the initial... Continue Reading

In July 2021, King County enacted Ordinance 19311, which created several new tenant protections in unincorporated King County. The ordinance requires the King County Executive to develop standardized eviction notices for landlords to use when terminating a tenancy. The new notices were published... Continue Reading

We want to take this opportunity to share our Top 10 Fair Housing tips to ensure you are up to date on the latest and greatest. Continue Reading

Bills that would have capped rent increases to CPI or 7%, whichever is lower failed to pass out of the Senate and House prior to the “house of origin cutoff.” By not passing the floor, these bills have stalled and are extremely unlikely to pass this year. Continue Reading

HB 1124, which would have required 180 notice was placed on the House Floor Calendar for a vote, but eventually failed to pass when it wasn’t brought up prior the “origin of house” cutoff. Continue Reading

Over 80 WMFHA members joined WMFHA staff, the Board of Directors, and our lobbyists for an exciting and fruitful day on the hill in Olympia. Continue Reading

The two bills, one House and one Senate, that would have removed the state preemption on town, city and county rent control failed to pass out of their first committee of referral. Continue Reading

WMFHA Government Affairs Director Ryan Makinster and WMFHA member, Kevin Weishaar, VP, Mercy Housing Management Group testified before the Senate Housing Committee on the Security Deposit acceptance and return process at the request of the Chairwoman, Senator Patty Kuderer. Continue Reading

On March 13, the Bellingham City Council passed an ordinance that requires all rent increases to be preceded by a 120 day notification. Continue Reading

On February 27, the Spokane Council passed two ordinances, C36330 and C36366 with Mayor Nadine Woodward vetoing the second one on March 16, 2023. Continue Reading

The Release Notes, which are accessible when logged into your NAA Click & Lease Program, include copies of these upcoming forms. Continue Reading

This month is dedicated to commemorating and celebrating the vital role of women. In honor of this, WMFHA, is highlighting a few of the many women who have advocated, educated and celebrated multi-family professionals in Washington in the last 20 years. Continue Reading

Security Deposit Bill Scheduled for Hearing on Wednesday – Take Action Now HB 1074 is scheduled to be heard... Continue Reading

Seatac City Council considering full list of tenant protections put forward by ARCH Virtual Public Comment Today, March... Continue Reading

96 ... Continue Reading

120 Day... Continue Reading

Seatac City... Continue Reading

Rent Control... Continue Reading

Starting February 27th, Jason will join the WMFHA team. Continue Reading

Rent Control... Continue Reading

View this email in your browser ... Continue Reading

Teddi Martin is a Sr. Community Manager with Greystar Seattle and has been a part of the multi-family industry for six years. In this time, Teddi has made a continued effort to break down barriers of access into the multi-family industry through her work with the (DEI) Committee. Continue Reading

Here we are in February - the month of love! This time of year is a good reminder to show the people around us the love we have to offer. Whether in our personal or professional lives, these simple acts promise to help people feel connected, appreciated, and seen. Continue Reading

Support this common sense bill to address the housing crisis. Continue Reading

View this email in your browser ... Continue Reading

HB 1817 - Establishing a housing gap voucher pilot program. Continue Reading

Establishing a housing gap voucher pilot program. Bill Information Sponsors: Braun, Lovick, Wilson, J. Companion: HB 1817 Status: (S) Housing What the bill does: Creates rental assistance vouchers through housing authorities for residents to bridge the gap between their income and their... Continue Reading

Concerning modifying the multifamily property tax exemption to promote development of long-term affordable housing. Bill Information Sponsors: Kuderer, Wellman, Frame, Hunt, Keiser, Liias, Lovelett, Nobles, Randall Companion: N/A Status: (S) Housing What the bill does: Creates a new 99-year... Continue Reading

Concerning local government design review. Bill Information Sponsors: Walen, Duerr, Bateman, Reed, Fitzgibbon, Ramel, Peterson, Macri, Tharinger, Wylie, Santos Companion: N/A Status: (H) Floor 2nd Reading What the bill does: Requires any design review of housing development permit... Continue Reading

Concerning housing programs administered by the department of commerce. Bill Information Sponsors: Mullet, Kuderer, Nguyen, Wilson, C. Companion: HB 1709 Status: Heard on Feb 9 in Senate Ways and Means, not yet scheduled What the bill does: Consolidates the Housing Assistance Program into... Continue Reading

Allowing for residential buildings of a certain height to be served by a single exit under certain conditions. Bill Information Sponsors: Salomon, Shewmake, Frame, Liias, Stanford Companion: N/A Status: Heard in (S) Local Government, Land Use & Tribal Affairs on Feb 2, not currently... Continue Reading

Help Stop A Bill That Will Add Substantial Costs to Multi-Family Development and Property Sales Please take a moment to... Continue Reading

Where to Find Legislative Updates and Action Alerts Continue Reading

Due to the effort of WMFHA, RHA, Spokane Realtors, Landlord Association – Inland NW, and many individual members, the Spokane City Council originally delayed passage of tenant protection ordinance 36330 from December 5, 2022 to January 23, 2023 in order to have stakeholder meetings and a... Continue Reading

We don’t have a rent problem; we have a supply problem. Due to decades of increasing regulation, artificially constrained land supply and ever-increasing inefficiencies in permitting, the creation of units has not kept up with demand. In fact, the WA Dept of Commerce recently estimated that... Continue Reading

Although less onerous, but still very detrimental to our industry, several “tenant protection” bills have also been filed with some already having been heard and moved out of committee. HB 1074 (Moved out of Housing Committee on a party line vote after amendment to statute of... Continue Reading

As you are probably aware there are several bills that although euphemistically labeled “Rent Stabilization” are, in fact, rent control. Three bills, HB 1388, HB 1389, and SB 5435 all attempt to create a statewide cap on rent increase. HB 1625 and SB 5615, the nuclear option, would... Continue Reading

This measure would create the “Seattle Social Housing Developer” as a public development authority (PDA) to develop, own and maintain social housing in Seattle, with all the powers available to PDAs under local and state law. Social housing means publicly owned and financed... Continue Reading

On Januarary 25, the White House announced a new plan to protect renters and promote affordability. NAA participated in a White House call previewing the Administration’s blueprint for advancing a “renter’s bill of rights,” an explicit campaign promise from President... Continue Reading

Although, now officially a lame duck, Seattle City Council Member Kshama Sawant led a discussion on legislation limiting late fees at the January 20 “Sustainability and Renters Rights Committee. (video)” Pointing to a need to protect renters without providing data or even a proposed... Continue Reading

Addressing documentation and processes governing landlords' claims for damage to residential premises. Continue Reading

Protecting tenants from excessive rent and related fees by providing at least six months' notice for rent increases over a certain amount, allowing tenants the right to terminate a tenancy without penalty, and limiting late fees. Bill Information Sponsors: Peterson, Fitzgibbon, Taylor, Street,... Continue Reading

Protecting tenants by prohibiting predatory residential rent practices and by applying the consumer protection act to the residential landlord-tenant act and the manufactured/mobile home landlord-tenant act. Bill Information Sponsors: Macri, Ramel, Peterson, Thai, Gregerson, Hackney, Ormsby,... Continue Reading

Concerning residential rent increases under the residential landlord-tenant act and the manufactured/mobile home landlord-tenant act. Bill Information Sponsors: Ramel, Macri, Peterson, Duerr, Gregerson, Alvarado, Ormsby, Doglio, Riccelli, Cortes, Mena, Thai, Kloba, Bateman, Street, Taylor,... Continue Reading

Enabling local governments to plan and adopt programs to stabilize and control rents. Bill Information Sponsors: Pollet, Farivar, Chopp, Alvarado, Macri, Doglio, Ramel, Reed, Fosse, Street Status: Referred to (H) Housing What the bill does: Removes statewide preemption on local rental... Continue Reading

Increasing the supply of affordable housing by modifying the state and local real estate excise tax. Bill Information Sponsors: Chopp, Macri, Peterson, Alvarado, Taylor, Reed, Pollet, Lekanoff, Fitzgibbon, Berg, Riccelli, Davis, Street, Ramel, Duerr, Senn, Doglio, Cortes, Stonier, Gregerson,... Continue Reading

Requiring the registration of rental and vacant housing units. Bill Information Sponsors: Kuderer, Trudeau, Dhingra, Frame, Keiser, Nguyen, Nobles, Randall, Robinson, Wellman Status: Amended Version passed out of (S) Housing, Referred to Ways and Means What the amended bill does: Requires... Continue Reading

Addressing landlord-tenant relations by providing technical changes to eviction notice forms and modifying certain eviction processes. Bill Information Sponsors: Kuderer, Saldaña, Frame, Nguyen, Nobles, Wellman, Wilson, C. Status: Law What the amended bill does: Allows remote... Continue Reading

Concerning residential rent increases under the residential landlord-tenant act and the manufactured/mobile home landlord-tenant act. Bill Information Sponsors: Trudeau, Saldaña, Frame, Hunt, Keiser, Kuderer, Lovelett, Nguyen, Robinson, Stanford, Wilson, C. Status: (S) Housing What the bill... Continue Reading

Enabling local governments to plan and adopt programs to stabilize and control rents. Bill Information Sponsors: Valdez Status: (S) Local Government, Land Use & Tribal Affairs What the bill does: Removes statewide preemption on local rental control Would allow local towns, cities, and... Continue Reading

Expanding the multifamily tax exemption program to include converting existing multifamily units. Bill Information Sponsors: Walen, Hutchins, Christian, Duerr, Leavitt, Senn, Stokesbary, Barkis, Gregerson, Pollet Companion: N/A Status: (H) Housing What the bill does: Allows current buildings... Continue Reading

Addressing documentation and processes governing landlords' claims for damage to residential premises. Bill Information Sponsors: Reed, Taylor, Ramel, Berg, Peterson, Stonier, Walen, Wylie, Simmons, Fitzgibbon, Chapman, Berry, Slatter, Mena, Barkis, Rule, Duerr, Gregerson, Chambers, Bateman,... Continue Reading

Click and Lease 30 day notice update (Recent Cares Act Court Decision) Continue Reading

Help Stop Rent Control Continue Reading

HB 1388 & 1389 Call To Action 2 Continue Reading

HB 1388 & 1389 Call To Action 1 Continue Reading

SB 5197 Call To Action Continue Reading

SB 5060 And HB 1124 Call To Action Continue Reading

Nick Marin is the new Executive Director of WMFHA. Nick is a certified Association Management Professional with nearly a decade of experience. He is joining WMFHA after serving as Executive Director of the Yolo County Association of REALTORS® (YCAR) in California for 6 years. Continue Reading

After hearing from WMFHA, housing providers and industry partners, Spokane City Council delays vote on tenant protection ordinance 36330. With first council discussion at the November, 21 2022 City Council briefing session, the ordinance was on the fast track to be passed at the December 5 City... Continue Reading

On Monday, December 5 the WA Court of Appeals published their opinion in Yemeserach Gebreseralse v. Columbia Debt Relief. The court found, in this circumstance, that the security deposit couldn't be fully forfeit due to the tenant’s failure to give notice and must, at least in portion, be... Continue Reading

Notice of Recent CARES Act Notice to Vacate Appeals Court Opinion - On Monday, December 5 the WA Court of Appeals published their opinion in Sherwood Auburn LLC v. Joel Pinzon and Rosa Mendez. This will require landlords, that are subject to the CARES Act, to modify the state court 14-day... Continue Reading

At the December 8 Government Affairs Committee meeting, WMFHA contract lobbyist Kathryn Hedrick presented “Legislation 1010 and Session Preview.” The presentation was a primer for some and reminder for others on the legislative makeup, the process of bill creation, drafting and... Continue Reading

WMFHA Director of Government Affairs Ryan Makinster and Consultant Kathryn Hedrick recently met with Democratic members of the “pragmatic” caucus during the Jackson Legacy Fund Reception in Olympia. As sponsors of the exclusive pre-reception social hour, WMFHA was able to discuss... Continue Reading

The NAA Assembly of Delegates was held November 14-17 in Norfolk, Virginia with several WMFHA members and staff in attendance. The Assembly of Delegates (AOD) is composed of up to two hundred and fifty (250) delegates from the NAA’s ten regions. AOD is NAA’s largest business meeting... Continue Reading

The roundtable was an opportunity for stakeholders to discuss housing affordability and supply issues as well as solutions designed to address the crisis, including the YIMBY Act. Continue Reading

57-41 and 29-20 majorities in both the House and Senate respectively. Continue Reading

On Tuesday November 1st WMFHA ‘s Director of Government Affairs, Ryan Makinster and Lobbyist Krystelle Purkey attended a housing roundtable in Olympia hosted by Lt. Governor Denny Heck & Senator Yasmin Trudeau. After opening remarks by Lt. Governor Heck and Senator Trudeau, Dr. Mike... Continue Reading

We know housing and affordability issues will take center stage with lawmakers. Partners for Affordable Housing (PAH), our coalition of organizations with shared interests on housing, is working now to prepare our industry to strategically engage on these critical issues through advocacy. Continue Reading

The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries announced that the state’s minimum wage will increase to $15.74 starting Jan. 1, 2023. Continue Reading

On Monday October 24, the Burien City Council passed a new “Tenant Protection” Ordinance with several requirements/prohibitions. Unfortunately, the council, through emergency action, chose an immediate effective date of October 28, so we want to make you aware so you can update your... Continue Reading

On Monday, October 17, the Port Townsend City Council passed a new “Tenant Protection” Ordinance with a notice of rent increase requirment. Unfortunately, the council chose an immediate effective date of October 24, so we want to make you aware so you can update your processes to... Continue Reading

On Tuesday, October 11, Mayor Harrell announced that the Seattle COVID Civil Emergency Proclamation will end October 31. With the end of the state of emergency, many of the Covid related restrictions specific to Seattle, will change or go away. Key changes: Rent Installment Plan requirement... Continue Reading

The Committee will review and provide direction on policy and regulatory issues of interest to the multi-family residential and associated industries. The committee will also recommend legal action, policy positions and state and local legislative priorities to the WMFHA Board of Directors. Continue Reading

Thankfully, due to WMFHA GA and member efforts, the council chose to apply an effective date of October 5 as well as protections for renewal notices provided prior to that date. Continue Reading

Congratulations to our very own Trey Leotti from Greystar Apartments! He is the recipient of the D.E.I. scholarship from the NAA. He is remarkable & whole heartedly deserves this opportunity. Continue Reading

Vendor consolidation has risen to the forefront as the leading strategy for achieving all of that and more! Continue Reading

At their Tuesday night meeting, the Newcastle city council voted 4-3 against adopting a set of tenant protection proposals pushed region wide by A Regional Coalition for Housing (ARCH). The ordinance championed by Newcastle Councilor Paul Charbonneau would have implemented the full package of ARCH... Continue Reading

City of Issaquah – Notice of “Tenant Protections”: Changes Effective October 5 Continue Reading

Remaining Covid Emergency Orders and State of Emergency to End by October 31, Governor Inslee Announces Continue Reading

In a post-pandemic world where everyone is trying to recover and regroup it is easy to keep your eyes down and keep plugging away.  Everyone in every industry is short-staffed and trying desperately to keep our business going and our overworked teams happy.  It is NOT a time where it is easy to... Continue Reading

On Tuesday, August 16, the Olympia City Council passed a new “Tenant Protection” Ordinance” with several requirements/prohibitions. Thankfully, due to WMFHA GA efforts, the council chose to apply a delayed effective date for the notification requirements. The adopted ordinance... Continue Reading

On Wednesday, August 3, the Kirkland City Council passed a new “Tenant Protection” Ordinance with several requirements/prohibitions. Thankfully, due to WMFHA GA and member efforts, the council chose to apply a delayed effective date of September 18 as well as protections for renewal... Continue Reading

On Monday July 25, the Kenmore City Council passed a new “just cause” ordinance with several requirements/prohibitions regarding evictions and tenancy termination. The effective date is Wednesday August 24, 2022. Just Cause A landlord shall not evict or attempt to evict any... Continue Reading

On Tuesday July 19, the Redmond City Council passed a new “Tenant Protection” Ordinance with several requirements/prohibitions. Unfortunately, the council chose an immediate effective date of July 30, so we want to make you aware so you can update your processes to comply. Notice of... Continue Reading

We are only six months into 2022, but the trend of housing providers leaving the Seattle market hasn’t slowed down. According to the latest data from Seattle’s Rental Property Registration database, Seattle continues to experience a decline in rental housing, with a net loss of 313... Continue Reading

Our members are like family! We are happy to have our newest members join the association. New Property Management Members: Sunlight Rentals LLC Sound Residential Investments Regenesis Property Management New Property Members: Black Bird Management Muir Apartments, Avenue5... Continue Reading

Businesses get started because we have great ideas or processes, or both! Running a successful firm demands more than great ideas or processes but you probably weren’t expecting that your admin responsibilities would be a full-time job. Like any other type of business, the property... Continue Reading

Winter can cause some problems with your plumbing system. Hoses and pipes may develop cracks and cause them to leak. Drains can get clogged. Before problems escalate, it is best to check your plumbing in the spring and get it ready for spring rains and the rest of the seasons. Here are spring... Continue Reading

When apartment communities relax breed and weight restrictions, the immediate reactions center upon what it means to current and future residents. Most notably, it means more pets will be accepted at move-in and existing residents have fewer restrictions when obtaining a new pet. But while... Continue Reading