‘No Money, No Mission’ Seattle Nonprofits Push to Weaken Tenant Protections

As Seattle’s housing affordability crisis deepens, a surprising group is pushing to scale back some of the city’s robust tenant protection laws for nonprofit landlords. The Housing Development Consortium (HDC), a coalition representing affordable housing providers, is working to pass legislation that would give landlords more flexibility in managing their properties. With a key City Council ally resigning, the group is now looking to advance these changes on its own.

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Nonprofit-Led Push for Legal Rollbacks

The Housing Development Consortium has been collaborating with Councilmember Cathy Moore to change several local laws that nonprofit landlords argue are financially unsustainable. Moore’s upcoming resignation, effective July 7, has put pressure on the group to take the lead in pushing legislation forward.

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Key Laws Targeted for Changes

The proposed reforms include repealing Seattle’s “roommate ordinance,” which currently requires landlords to allow tenants to add roommates or family members. Nonprofit landlords say this rule limits their ability to manage occupancy effectively. Another major target is the city’s winter eviction ban. The new proposal would allow evictions during the cold months for tenants who are found to be deliberately withholding rent. Advocates of the change argue this would prevent abuse of seasonal eviction protections.

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Division Over Lease Renewal Rules

While Moore and HDC saw eye-to-eye on several changes, they differed on the “right of first refusal” law. This regulation requires landlords to offer a new lease to current tenants unless there is just cause for non-renewal. Moore supported removing it, but HDC wants it retained. The disagreement ultimately stalled the collaboration.

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Council Ally Steps Down Amid Tension

Councilmember Cathy Moore had been a key ally for the Housing Development Consortium, but differences over the scale of policy changes caused a pause in their joint efforts. Her upcoming departure due to personal and health reasons leaves the nonprofit without its strongest legislative supporter just as debates over tenant protections intensify.

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Broad Tenant Protections Under Scrutiny

Seattle has some of the strongest tenant protections in the country. These include strict eviction limits, restrictions on landlord discretion in choosing tenants, requirements for relocation assistance if rents rise sharply, and mandatory advance notice for rent increases. Nonprofit landlords say these laws, while well-intentioned, are financially burdensome and reduce flexibility in property management.

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Legal Action Already Attempted

Private developer GRE Development previously sued the city in an effort to undo some of these tenant protection laws. The lawsuit was unsuccessful, but it highlighted growing frustration among both nonprofit and private landlords about the limits imposed by local ordinances.

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New Compromise Talks Begin

Council member Mark Solomon, who has experience as a small landlord, is attempting to broker a compromise between housing providers and renter advocates. He’s been meeting with both sides to explore options, but admitted that new legislation is unlikely to progress before the City Council’s August recess. Though HDC remains committed to seeing policy changes enacted, the departure of Moore and the lack of immediate consensus on the Council mean that any potential law is likely to face delays. Without formal committee discussions or floor votes scheduled, advocates may have to wait until fall or later to see movement on the proposed rollbacks.