First landlords, now tenants: King County opens relief-program applications for renters

| Coronavirus | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

King County’s Eviction Prevention and Rental Assistance Program is now open for applications from renters facing housing instability because of the pandemic. Three weeks ago, we published news of the first phase of applications, for landlords; more than 5,000 properties and 1,429 landlords with 5 or more tenants behind in rent are now registered. If your landlord is getting funding, you don’t have to apply directly; if not, you do. Eligibility information is here. If you qualify, the program will “offer payments for back rent, utility expenses and even future rent obligations,” according to today’s full announcement, which also says that if a property qualifies, “Landlords must agree not to terminate or refuse to renew tenancy until after December 31, 2021, except for special circumstances such as sale of the property or health and safety issues.”

flimflam May 18, 2021 (3:23 pm)

this will be very interesting and i am curious how landlords will be repaid. i have never understood how people that were unable to pay rent for months/a year will be able to pay it all back, unless the landlord has to accept tiny payments every month for the next X# of years. it was a difficult year for most everyone but i feel for landlords right now – they had no relief from taxes, bills, etc and were pretty much left out to dry.

Mj May 18, 2021 (5:38 pm)

flimflam – agreed especially the small ma and pop landlords that tend to provide lower rents have been hung out to dry by the government.

Shoosh May 18, 2021 (6:50 pm)

Where in Seattle do those exist?
- Anne May 18, 2021 (7:03 pm)
  
  Look around WS.
- Apotheosis May 18, 2021 (7:07 pm)
  
  Here!
Diane May 18, 2021 (7:06 pm)

what are you talking about? this is $145 million in government funding that all goes to landlords; whether the landlord applies or the tenant applies, it all goes to landlords
Derek May 19, 2021 (10:03 am)

Poor landlords buying homes they can’t afford and need someone else to foot their bad financial decision! It aint on the government or taxes to help you with your bad decision.

LuLuBelle May 18, 2021 (7:47 pm)

shoosh. Good units exist. Ya just gotta look. I’ve got a 2 bedroom just off Alki with some water view. I pay $1,435a month.

Shoosh May 18, 2021 (8:33 pm)

You may be paying cheap rent, but your LL is ultimately keeping someone from participating in home ownership and driving up the cost of living for everyone else. I’m not saying ‘ma’ is bad or ‘pa’ is bad, but the collective amount of people who do not live in homes they own in this town is a big part of the crunch folks are feeling. Bailing these folks out while their property values skyrocket feels kind of egregious.
- wscommuter May 18, 2021 (10:59 pm)
  
  Perhaps I’m missing something … could you please explain exactly how “your LL is ultimately keeping someone from participating in home ownership …”? I don’t get it; maybe I’m dense. Just what are LL’s doing which prevent others from owning homes?
- shotinthefoot May 19, 2021 (10:35 am)
  
  Shoosh: I’d love for you to explain how renting a home to someone is “keeping someone from home ownership” – like, renters aren’t allowed to live in houses? Should we all be forced to live in microstudios until we’re blessed enough to be able to buy a home? Someone isn’t allowed to rent a home because you want to buy it? Also, how is providing affordable rent “driving up the cost of living for everyone else”? That literally makes zero sense. Please, do explain, because it sounds like you’re implying a whole lot about renters that I’d like to see you expand on.
- One May 20, 2021 (10:43 pm)
  
  Landlords are not being bailed out. They just get the payment they deserve for the service they provide. Otherwise it’s theft.

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