Colleagues,

The new Tacoma Rental Housing Code is in effect as of Feb. 1.  I've copied the City's information at the bottom of this page.  All tenants in the City of Tacoma, except those on 12 month leases signed before Feb. 1, 2019,  should receive a Tenant Information Packet from their landlord by March 2.  (30 days after the new code went into effect).  

There is sometimes confusion among service and housing providers over who exactly is covered- especially in programs called "Transitional."   I asked ChiQuata Elder, Landlord Tenant/Crime Free Housing Coordinator for the City of Tacoma to clarify this for us and here is her response: (note:  RLTA is the state's Residential Landlord Tenant Act; TMC is Tacoma Municipal Code)

From ChiQuata today, Feb. 22, 2019:

Under TMC 1.95 a person who is renting a room in a private home is subject to the same rights as a person renting an apartment.  We even added in our code a person who is living in a motel/hotel (which is usually exempt from the RLTA) for longer than thirty days they are subject to the Rental Housing Code. 

 

So, yes all the tenants who are living in units within the City of Tacoma limits should be given the Tenant Information packet if they are on a month to month rental agreement or if the lease agreement is entered into after Feb 1st.  

 

I think that big thing for people to remember that even if a person is renting a room in one of these transitional housing/clean and sober housing does not mean they are exempt from the RLTA, it just gives them an expedited way to terminate tenancy if the they meet all the requirements of RCW 59.18.550. 


ChiQuata Elder

Landlord Tenant/Crime Free Housing Coordinator

City of Tacoma | Office of Equity and Human Rights

Phone: 253-591-5085/Fax:253-591-5985 

celder@cityoftacoma.org


If you or your clients have questions, please contact ChiQuata directly.


Remember - this code also applies to single rooms rented in a private home and transitional housing/clean and sober housing and motel/hotel stays longer than 30 days within the City of Tacoma.  If you own, operate or rent residential property within the City of Tacoma, this code applied to you.


If you are a landlord and did not receive information on the new code, please check that you are properly registered with the City of Tacoma.  

If you are a case manager/navigator/outreach worker/housing specialist and have clients who pay rent for housing within the City of Tacoma, please familiarize yourself with the new code and please check to be sure your clients receive and understand their Tenant Information packet.  Your clients have a right to safe and decent housing.  If their housing is substandard, the clients have recourse but they or you need to contact ChiQuata.  Note:  the link to the Tenant Information Packet should work.

From the City of Tacoma website:

The Rental Housing Code Information Packets Now Available

The City of Tacoma’s Tenant Information Packets are now available for download.  The packet includes: 

  • Summaries of TMC 1.95, RCW 59.18, TMC 1.29 and TMC 2.01, which must be distributed to all current tenants within thirty (30) days of February 1, 2019, when the code went into effect.
  • Resource pages landlords are required to give to tenants with any notice under RCW 59.12 and TMC 1.95.

Download the Tenant Information Packet 

Tacoma City Council Passes Rental Housing Code

On November 20, 2018, the Tacoma City Council passed the Rental Housing Code providing protections for tenants and specific guidance to landlords who operate residential rental businesses in Tacoma. The Rental Housing Code also includes a provision for housing relocation assistance to qualifying tenants and allows the City to investigate complaints and enforce the code.

 

New Requirements for Landlords:  

  • 120-day notice to vacate and relocation assistance for low-income tenants when a landlord intends to change the use, substantially rehabilitate, or demolish a dwelling unit 
  • 60-day notice to vacate for no-cause termination of tenancy 
  • 60-day notice requirement for rent increases
  • A requirement that landlords distribute information about tenant rights as well as landlord and tenant responsibilities 

New Tenant Protections: 

  • Prohibits retaliation against tenants for exercising their rights under the Washington State Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (RCW 59.18, RLTA) 
  • Allows installment payments for various deposits and fees 
  • Codification of relocation assistance when the City declares a building uninhabitable 
  • Provides relocation assistance for qualifying termination of tenancy of low-income tenants 
  • Allows tenants to file a complaint and for the City of Tacoma to investigate and enforce the code

Does this Ordinance Apply to Me? 

If you own, operate or rent residential rental property within the Tacoma city limits, the Rental Housing Code applies to you.  Verify if your rental property is within the Tacoma city limits.

We Want to Hear from You

In order to track the impact of the Rental Housing Code, we are asking housing providers to come online and take our survey. The link to our survey will be posted here when it is available. Thank you in advance for your participation.


Finally, we all want as much safe, decent, and affordable housing as possible.  The City of Tacoma has resources to help make that happen.  We just need to let them know.  

Thank you for your work,
Maureen

MaureenHowardConsulting
maureenhowardconsulting@gmail.com

Tel:  253-756-8146

3320 S. 8th Street
Tacoma, WA 98405