From Washington Low Income Housing Alliance
Last year, we came very close to passing Rent Stabilization. In 2025, the chances are even better!
Right now, your representatives are deciding which bills to prioritize, and it’s crucial they hear from you. Rent Stabilization is an important issue for all Washingtonians.
Contact your state lawmakers today to tell them to take action by passing rent stabilization during the upcoming 2025 legislative session. Opposition to this important policy is trying to convince lawmakers to vote no – but we can join together and demand that our lawmakers stand up for rent stabilization!
Suggested Script:
Rents are sky-high, while excessive rent increases continue to destabilize households all across the state. Evictions are the highest in 10 years, and the number one reason is that people can’t afford to keep up with rent increases. This is all driving our homelessness crisis and we need urgent action now. Please pledge to me and our community to make the passage of rent stabilization a top priority in 2025.
We need the comprehensive, well-thought-out and reasonable solutions that were in House Bill 2114 and Senate Bill 5961 last session. Those bills would have allowed landlords to raise the rent each year by 7%. This is critical to stabilize people in their homes.
Thank you,[NAME], [CITY], [ZIP]
Additional Talking Points:
Please listen to the experiences of just a few renters who were recently felt the impact from excessive rent increases:
“In June my rent was increased by $185 per month, this will certainly impact availability of money for food and utilities.”
“My rent was raised $194, this is the second increase in a year. I am forced to pay over $2000 in rent, but my landlord doesn’t do repairs. This is causing me financial stress, anxiety and impacts my food budget.”
“My rent is going up $220. My landlord said it is because they are putting in a new train [transit] by our house. I just started a new job and thought that I wouldn’t be struggling as much as I once was, but now I’m in the same boat as before.”
This is unacceptable. Renters are families that need and deserve protection. Please pledge to stand up and do everything you can to get a bill like last year’s HB 2114/SB 5961 passed this session.
Please call or email these elected representatives