Tri-Cities renters sent eviction notices despite WA moratorium to protect them

Tri-Citians are complaining to the state about landlords violating the governor’s moratorium on evictions.

And the number is likely to increase with Gov. Jay Inslee’s extension of the ban through June 4. Last week he also added protections against late fees and extended the protection for other types of rental properties.

The Northwest Justice Project also is getting calls about some local landlords trying to sidestep the moratorium by handing out eviction notices, said Tami Arntzen, a Kennewick attorney with the publicly-funded legal aid organization.

“So far we haven’t seen a landlord file a new eviction action, but we have seen a landlord serving notices that are banned by the moratorium,” she said.

As of Thursday, the state Attorney General’s Office had received 525 complaints and talked with 406 tenants and 216 landlords about their concerns and questions.

In the Tri-Cities, the AG’s office has received eight complaints but officials weren’t able to provide specifics on how many of the four people in Richland, three in Kennewick and one in Pasco were tenants or landlords.

Inslee initially put a stop to evictions in mid-March.

The move prevented any landlords from starting the process for booting tenants for not paying their rent.

That includes sending the warnings that start the eviction process, filing lawsuits or bringing in the sheriff department to remove someone from a house.

The governor put the move into place as thousands of people across the state lost their jobs as a result of social distancing measures to slow the spread of the new coronavirus.

“It is clear that as we deal with the challenges around COVID-19, the financial impacts on Washingtonians are significant,” Inslee said Thursday as he extended the order. “Continued support and protection for tenants is the right thing to do.”

Pay your rent, if you can

When the governor’s order was initially put in place, Arntzen said the types of calls she received changed.

“We always get housing calls. It is one of the top two issues we see at our local Northwest Justice Project office,” she told the Herald. “The difference is that as soon as people started losing income due to COVID-19 and the moratorium went into effect that calls started being about this, almost exclusively.”

The moratorium puts a pause on the entire eviction process.

Normally when a tenant doesn’t pay rent, the landlord has to give a notice to pay or vacate in 14 days. Landlords can’t serve that notice, or file the court case that comes after when people file that notice.

The attorney wanted to make sure people understand that even though their rent payments are suspended, it doesn’t mean they’re canceled.

The moratorium is only a temporary delay on the payments. Once it ends, people will need to come up with all of the money they owe, she said.

“The ban simply means you can’t be evicted right now for not paying rent,” she said. “You can still be evicted ... if you don’t pay, so if you can pay your rent, pay it.”

If you can’t pay, Arntzen said talking with your landlord should be your first move.

While landlords aren’t required to work with their tenants, many will, and landlord associations are encouraging their members to be considerate.

If renters can work out a deal with the landlord, make sure to get it in writing. This protects both the landlord and the tenant from any confusion about what is expected.

“Whenever it’s possible it’s best to open that conversation, write a letter, send an email, something that lets them know your situation, and shows them that you’re being reasonable and trying to address the situation in the best way that you can,” she said.

If you get an eviction notice, Arntzen said people should seek legal help. They can call the Northwest Justice Project at 888-201-1014.

They can also file a complaint with the Washington State Attorney General’s Office at www.atg.wa.gov/file-complaint.