State Commercial Rent Control Bill Possible in 2022 Lawmakers in Olympia have asked staff to look at the viability of a Commercial Rent Control policy to help stabilize small businesses and especially restaurants coming out of COVID-19. Commercial rent control is not a viable solution for commercial affordability, nor will it lessen the economic fallout from COVID-19. Additionally, Washington’s current statewide ban on rent control only applies to residential units so there is no legal obstacle to any city in WA deciding to enact commercial rent control and there may be growing sentiment in Olympia among some that this might be a good solution. There is a broad range of issues affecting commercial property affordability that need to be considered and supported and rent control is not going to solve any of those problems. BOMA will be involved in further discussions with lawmakers and advocacy on this critical issue. Governor Continues Residential Eviction Ban to September 30th with “Bridge” Proclamation Even after the legislature passed SB 5160 which mandated the end of the statewide residential eviction moratorium as of June 30, Governor Inslee announced a new eviction moratorium “bridge” proclamation to continue in place until September 30, 2021. The bridge is not an extension of the existing eviction moratorium but is a new order and promises relief to housing providers from Federal funds allocated by the legislature. A housing provider is prohibited from evicting a resident until there is an operational rental assistance program and eviction resolution program in place in their county. Additionally, housing providers are prohibited from treating past unpaid rent or other charges as an enforceable debt until the housing provider and resident have been provided with an opportunity to resolve non-payment through an eviction resolution pilot program.
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