Many families in Washington face genuine hardship, job loss, medical bills, or unexpected crises, that make paying rent on time a monthly struggle. While many property owners and housing organizations work with tenants who want to pay, there are some tenants who game the system, often staying months or years without paying rent. Municipalities pass restrictive eviction policies which play into the hands of the less than honest renters, backfiring and harming the very people they aim to protect. Tacoma's recent experience illustrates this clearly.
In 2023, voters approved the Landlord Fairness Code Initiative, banning evictions from November to April and restricting them during the school year for families with children. After two years, affordable housing providers reported mounting delinquent rents and unit damage, jeopardizing their ability to maintain properties or secure investments for new units.
Recognizing these unintended consequences, the Tacoma City Council amended the code on December 9, 2025, exempting the Tacoma Housing Authority and nonprofit providers of income-restricted housing from cold-weather and school-year eviction bans.
The change in the ordinance preserves tenant support while enabling providers to manage properties sustainably. Seattle should take note. The city maintains strict winter eviction bans (December to March) and school-year protections (September to June for households with children), contributing to unpaid rents and costly processes.
Instead of reforms, Seattle has relied on taxpayer funds, $14 million in emergency aid last year and $28 million more recently, to cover shortfalls.
In a recent opinion piece, The Seattle Times highlighted Tacoma’s willingness to make a change in the face of failure and called on Seattle to do the same.
Overly restrictive policies discourage investment in rental housing, reducing supply and driving up costs for everyone, including struggling families. Small landlords, in particular, face financial ruin from prolonged non-payment, forcing some to exit the market.
While not perfect, Tacoma's amendments offer a model. Seattle leaders should follow suit to ensure long-term housing access for all.
