By Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles

It is exciting to see Seattle’s landscape and economy grow and evolve, but for every new crane on the horizon, there are hundreds of personal stories to be told.

Unfortunately, economic growth too frequently results in a lack of affordable housing, leaving many people displaced from their homes, scrambling to find affordable housing. These can include tenants who cherish their independence having to find roommates. For seniors and individuals with disabilities on fixed incomes, there can be enormous, even insurmountable challenges to avoid becoming homeless.

At first, as our city became more popular, a common assumption was that having more apartments available would result in lower rents. Spacious lots became occupied by condos, and Ballard landmarks such as Sunset Lanes were taken down to make room for high-rise apartments. Unfortunately, even with all the new apartments available, rents have continued to climb. It’s not just that the new apartments cost more to rent or lease; old apartments now cost more, too. In fact, buildings built before the 1990s have seen an almost 8.5-percent increase in annual rents. In some cases, tenants’ rents have doubled.

Rent increases are wreaking havoc on tenants, especially those on fixed incomes who have few options when rents rise. A recent report found only 15 affordable housing units in Seattle and King County for every 100 low-income families.

The story of rent increases is nothing new to Ballard. Some tenants in our area have taken a stand against rapid rent increases, such as those who formed the Lockhaven Tenants Union in Ballard after their new building owner told them to leave or their rent would be, in many cases, doubled. And most faced at least temporary eviction while the units were to be renovated. Many found the rent and/or eviction notices tacked on their door when they awoke in the morning.

It’s not just people on fixed incomes who are affected by rent increases. Middle-class and working-class families are quickly finding that rents are becoming unsustainable for their families’ budgets. Hard-working teachers and many others in professional positions, and restaurant workers and other service workers are being forced to move out of the city. There they face longer commute times and must relocate their kids away from friends and into new schools.

Because too few options are available, renters need more time. That’s why this session I am introducing legislation to require notice of rent increases of more than 10 percent be provided 90 days in advance, up from 30 days currently. And local jurisdictions would have the option to extend tenant relocation assistance to a broader base of renters. It is absolutely necessary that we enact common-sense changes that give tenants fair warning of changes to their rents and more comprehensive assistance if they must relocate. This will give renters who are priced out of their homes the time they need to find a new place to live and save enough money to be able to pay expensive moving costs.

This legislation could benefit both tenants and landlords. Providing tenants with adequate notice will enable them to find new homes. At the same time, it will give landlords the ability to adjust rents to match market trends without having to evict tenants currently unable to line up new quarters.

In addition, this session, I have sponsored and co-sponsored common-sense reforms to protect the affordability and availability of rental housing:

• First and foremost, Sen. David Frockt’s and Rep. Brady Walkinshaw’s Fair Tenant Screening Act, which creates a comprehensive screening report that allows a prospective tenant to pay one fee and use that report to apply for multiple rentals for up to 30 days.

• Second, my bill, also introduced in the House by Rep. Tim Ormsby, to prohibit discrimination in housing based on source of income, such as participation in government assistance programs like Section 8 housing and veterans’ benefits.

• Finally, The Truth in Evictions Reporting Act sponsored by Sen. Cyrus Habib, and sponsored in the House by Rep. June Robinson, which would ensure that tenant screening reports are accurate when they list past evictions.

As our city expands, we can expect some growing pains. However, we can ease those pains by adjusting our laws to match the evolving rental environment of our ever-growing city.