PRESS RELEASE: Statewide limits on rent increases, good cause eviction protections overwhelmingly popular in Washington, poll finds
Stephanie Rodriguez is a King County renter and Washington CAN member who worked with our Stable Homes Initiative to win Good Cause Eviction protections for renters in Federal Way. Now she’s calling on state lawmakers to respond to the will of the people and pass statewide good cause eviction protections and rent regulations.
A poll of 800 likely voters conducted March 15-22 found that 71 percent of voters across the state support enacting statewide limits on rent increases and good cause eviction protections. Additionally 78 percent of respondents identified the high cost of rent as a problem.
While the legislature has been slow to pass renter protections, this poll shows their constituents do not share that hesitancy. In fact, voters across our state, in Spokane and Seattle alike, want policies that both keep renters in their homes, and keeps rents down.
The legislature needs to implement these policies in the next legislative session. Not only are these policies deeply popular, but now there will be a great need for these laws statewide after Governor Inslee’s emergency orders are lifted. The COVID-19 crisis has shown us how - even in a crisis - there are still some landlords who will raise rent, threaten eviction, and flout basic decency. The only way this will change is with comprehensive legislative action.
“Rent regulation and good cause eviction protections protect everyone in the community, preventing people from falling into homelessness and giving our kids a chance at having a stable home.” said King County renter and Washington CAN member Stephanie Rodriguez.
This poll makes clear that rent regulation and good cause protections are not just broadly popular, but in demand. We conducted this poll to explore the viability of this issue, and while the COVID-19 crisis limits our ability to directly take this policy to voters this year - we know that candidates running for office, regardless of political party, need to make rent regulation and good-cause eviction cornerstones of their campaign platforms if they want to win election.