Would rent control work in Washington?

[TexasTowelie]

Organizers in Washington are following an Oregon-led movement to establish rent control laws that protect hundreds of thousands of struggling tenants across the state.

The Tenants Union (TU) of Washington State organized a rally for rent control in Olympia on Feb. 27, which happened to be the day before Oregon’s statewide rent control bill, SB 608, was signed into law. It limits the amount a landlord can raise rents to 7 percent annually and prohibits no-cause evictions.

The bill’s emergency provision enabled it to go into effect immediately, “providing immediate relief to Oregonians struggling to keep up with rising rents,” according to Gov. Kate Brown.

The impacts of rent increases are being felt on the Eastside as well. According to Real Data/Apartment Insights, the average rent in east King County cities rose 5.6 percent from 2017 to 2018 ($1,836 to $1,939 per month).

Read more: https://www.seattleweekly.com/news/would-rent-control-work-in-washington/

[empedocles]

1. In Washington, D.C., there is rent control that applies mostly to older apartment

buildingx, [built before 1975]. It has helped alleviate the powerful 'urban removal' of longtime residents as young, more affluent residents flood into the city.

[Cicada]

2. Increasing supply of residences is even better

One problem with going back to laws permitting boarding homes is that there would be too many cars in a neighborhood. Maybe increased density could be limited to areas with public transportation. And before too long autonomous cars and Uber may reduce private ownership. We need to solve the underlying problem, to few residences.

[Wounded Bear]

3. Rent control has a history of not working well...

I'm not sure how the Oregon plan works, or if it's been in place long enough to really evaluate it.

Apartment building has been booming lately. Some easing of rates may be in the works. Long term, that's probably the only real answer to the problem. Another problem is that builders are reluctant to build smaller "starter" homes that first time buyers can afford.

[comradebillyboy]

4. Does rent control work anywhere?

[RainCaster]

5. The economics of WA are too diverse for this to work

I have a hard time understanding how state-wide laws would work equitably far all of us. The economy in Sunnyside is very different from Tacoma or Spokane.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

6. It would have to be changed at the state level

I believe state law restricts such and has since the 1980s.