Eviction Moratorium Extended - Resources Available

Updated 02/17/2022

The CDC recently extended the eviction moratorium to July 31, 2021. Additionally, Governor Inslee announced an emergency proclamation to bridge the gap between the eviction moratorium and the housing stability programs put in place by the legislature. proc_21-09.pdf (wa.gov).

If you are struggling with rent arrears as a direct or indirect result of COVID 19, this proclamation adds guidelines to allow tenants the additional time they may need to receive assistance. 

The high points of the proclamation state:

• Effective through February 28, 2022
• Addresses rental arrears from February 29, 2020 through July 31, 2021 related to COVID-19.
• For past rent owed, landlords are prohibited from threatening, serving or enforcing any notice requiring a tenant to vacate until (1) both a rental assistance program and an eviction resolution pilot program are implemented and operational in the County where the property is located and (2) a tenant has been provided with and has since the effective date of this order,  rejected or failed to respond within 14 days of receipt of a notice, to an opportunity to participate in an operational rental assistance program and an operational eviction resolution pilot program. 
• Tenants must respond to landlords regarding establishing reasonable repayment plans, defined as monthly payments equal to 1/3 of the monthly rental charges during the period of accrued debt, and participate in eviction resolution programs.   
• Presumes any rent payment made on or after August 1, 2021 is applied to current rent.
• Rental assistance and eviction resolution services must be accessible to persons with limited English proficiency and to persons with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations.
• Rental arrears can’t be treated as enforceable debt until the landlord and tenant have been provided with an opportunity to resolve nonpayment of rent.  This includes attempts to collect the debt, judicial action, withholding security deposit funds and reporting to credit bureaus.
• Rent accruing from August 1, 2021 or thereafter: tenants are expected to pay rent in full, negotiate a lesser amount or payment plan or actively seek rental assistance.  Landlords can’t threaten to or evict a tenant if they have (1) made full payment of rent or (2) made a partial payment that has been negotiated with their landlord, (3) has a pending application for rental assistance or (4) resides in a jurisdiction which the rental assistance program is anticipating additional resources but hasn’t started the program yet or isn’t accepting new applications for assistance yet.  A landlord is not required to accept a partial payment of rent but is required to offer a reasonable repayment plan. 
• Late fees for February 29, 2020 through September 30, 2021 are prohibited.
• Rent increase are allowed however there are guidelines landlords must follow.
• Landlords are allowed to engage in customary and routine communications with tenants.

Rental assistance programs by county can be found at:

• King: https://rent-help.kingcounty.gov/
• Snohomish: www.voaww.org            
• Pierce: https://www.piercecountywa.gov/7142/Rental-Assistance

You can also dial 211 which is a community resource information bank that can help you connect to assistance resources in your area.

Contributed by Charnell Morud, personal financial coach with Verity Credit Union