Do you need help? Do you understand your responsibilities and rights as a tenant?
Here are some key resources to help you get help and know your rights
Today, people who rent make up more than 50% of Seattle residents, and the COVID-19 pandemic continues to place many in our community at risk of not being able to meet their housing needs.
If you have questions about the COVID-19 eviction moratorium, landlord-tenant laws, or need to discuss strategies to prevent losing your housing, several organizations provide resources to help:
- The Tenants Rights Hotline helps tenants assistance to get the knowledge and skills to keep themselves and their families safely housed. Call 206-723-0500.
- If you have a question about your rights as a tenant, you may call the CLEAR Line Legal Help at 1-888-201-1014, or Solid Ground Tenant Services at 206-694-6767.
Additional ways to get help
- King County 2-1-1 crisis connections can connect veterans and active military to the specialized resources they need for themselves and members of their household, such as housing assistance, help with financial needs, or to find the location of the nearest food bank. Call 2-1-1.
- Solid Ground Tenant Services helps families keep or obtain housing and get support to overcome poverty & thrive. It also offers Rent Smart webinars twice monthly. Call 206-694-6767.
- Seattle Laws on Property & Tenant Rights & Responsibilities (PDF)
- Tenants may report a problem to the Seattle Department of Constructions and Inspections (SDCI) if the owner or manager does not make a repair in a reasonable time. Call (206) 615-0808, write or visit in person:
SDCI Code Compliance, Seattle Municipal Tower, 700 Fifth Ave., Floor 19, Seattle.
- Tenants may report a problem to the Seattle Department of Constructions and Inspections (SDCI) if the owner or manager does not make a repair in a reasonable time. Call (206) 615-0808, write or visit in person:
- The Tenant Law Center, formerly known as Legal Action Center offers free legal assistance to qualifying low-income persons in the City of Seattle who are facing eviction or subsidy termination. Call (206) 324-6890.
- City of Seattle Department of Housing provides resources for renters, including information on finding affordable housing, knowing your rights and responsibilities and the City’s Homeownership Assistance Program.
Many of these Resources are also looking for Volunteers – if you are able and willing, please consider getting involved as well!
Reports
In 2017, after hearing from many Wallingford residents that they were facing or feared displacement due to substantial rent increases, we invited the Seattle Tenant’s Rights Boot Camp to Wallingford. Devin Silvernail, Seattle Tenant’s Rights Boot Camp, and Maureen Roat, Senior Staff Attorney for the Legal Action Center, went over a lot of how the law works to protect renters and/or landlords, as well as where it does not. The Wallyhood blog covered the evening in this article.
