On July 11,
2023, the Tacoma City Council passed Amended Substitute Ordinance 28894, which
updated the Rental Housing Code (TMC 1.95, RHC) which went into effect on July
24, 2023.
New Protections for Tenants
- Double the amount of notice for rent increases, from 60
to 120 days
- Greater protections for subleasing tenants in shared
housing arrangements
- Established maximum income-to-rent ratios
- Elimination of blanket bans on felony or drug
convictions and arrest records
- Landlords prohibited from using Social Security Numbers
as the sole tenant screening method
- No late fees exceeding 1.5% of monthly rent with a
maximum limit of $75 per month
- More time to pay move-in fees
- Landlords prohibited from pursuing eviction or
increasing rent without a current City rental business license or if the unit
is dangerous or unsafe
- New limitations on pet restriction
Notices to Increase Rent
A 120-day written notice to the tenant will now be
required. Subsidized housing and deed-restricted affordable housing are exempt
from this requirement.
Standardized Tenant Screening Criteria
Landlords cannot:
- Exceed maximum income-to-rent ratios [Note: The City
establishes its limits on income-to-rent ratio based on Fair Market Rent (FMR)
– or what someone would typically pay for a moderately priced unit in a given
area.]
- Place blanket bans on prospective tenants with felony
or drug convictions, and arrest records
- Require a Social Security Number as the only way to
conduct screening [Note: Alternative proof to establish eligibility must be
accepted.]
Rental Agreement Regulations
On rental agreements, landlords are:
- Required to state the legal number of occupants and
habitable spaces in the unit.
- Required to provide a name and physical address, in
addition to any rental portals or online tools to pay rent, request repairs,
and file complaints. [Note: If a landlord does not reside in the state of
Washington, there must also be an authorized agent who resides within Pierce
County, as outlined in RCW 59.18.060(15).]
- Prohibited from regulating or restricting dogs based on
breeds, unless they have an insurance company-required breed restriction,
provided that any breed of service animal shall be allowed.
Standards for Fees and Deposits
Late fees cannot
exceed 1.5 percent of monthly rent, with a maximum limit of $75 per month, and
landlords must actively take steps to recover late fees during tenancy by
serving quarterly notices or invoices, and tenants will have more time to pay
move-in fees, depending on length and type of rental agreement. Landlords will
be prohibited from:
- Withholding late fees from deposits, or reporting
information regarding late fees to prospective landlords at the end of tenancy,
if late fees were not addressed during tenancy
- Assessing late fees on charges that are not rent, such
as installment payments, deposits, or amenities like parking
- Requiring a pet
damage deposit exceeding 25 percent of one month’s rent
- Withholding full refund of a tenant’s pet damage
deposit if unused
A tenant's non-refundable fees, security deposit and last
month's rent are generally described as move-in fees. Breakdown of move-in
fees:
·
Six Months or Longer
Tenants will be allowed six, instead of three, months to pay move-in fees and
deposits in monthly installments
·
Three to Five Months Long
Tenants will be allowed to pay move-in fees and deposits in monthly
installments over the course of three months
·
Month-to-Month
Tenants will be allowed to pay move-in fees and deposits in monthly
installments over the course of two months, and last month’s rent over the
course of six months
Shared Housing Standards
For shared housing arrangements (where a tenant rents a
private room or shared room, but shares common areas such as a kitchen,
gathering spaces, and/or bathroom with other tenants), the following
requirements will apply:
- The master lease holder must share contact information
for any subleasing tenants with the landlord, and the landlord’s contact
information with any subleasing tenants.
- When renting to
four or more tenants, separate rental agreements for each habitable space (i.e.
spaces used for living, sleeping, eating or cooking) are required
- The landlord is required to serve any notices that can
lead to eviction to the master lease holder and provide the master lease holder
with additional copies of notices to serve each subleasing tenant.
- If subleasing tenants are not provided a written notice
of eviction, the landlord must allow the subleasing tenants an additional 30
days to vacate after the eviction order is issued, or as ordered by the court.
Business License, Health, and Safety Requirements
A landlord will not be able to pursue eviction or
increase rent without a current City of Tacoma rental business license or if a
dwelling unit does not comply with RCW 59.18.060, and presents conditions that
endanger or impair tenant health and safety.
Rental Housing Code Resources for Tenants
According to TMC 1.95.030 at the time of application prospective tenants have the right to access information about code violations, findings of discrimination and how to register to vote.
Washington State Voter Registration Information can be found at:
sos.wa.gov
Code Violations
You may access information online about current and previous violations by entering an address on the Code Violations web page. If you have questions about a case, please contact the TacomaFIRST 311 Customer Support Center by calling 3-1-1 or (253) 591-5000 outside City limits. When calling, be prepared with the case number or address you’d like to discuss.
Discrimination Cases
For information on the discrimination cases, visit the Fair Housing web page.
Rental Housing Code
Read the Rental Housing Code (TMC 1.95).