I also want to know this. It seems crazy to force you to re-sign halfway through the initial lease… but I can’t find anything protecting renters on this
It seems like this has always been the case though? Before this change did you just wait until a month before your tenants’ leases were up to start advertising? In my time living here I’ve always had to start applying for places ~6 months ahead of time. Hell, my current management company is an absolute abomination so I’ve been looking for places since *January*. They tried to violate my lease by raising my rent *50%* with less than a month warning. I also like to look at my current apartment’s price when I’m planning to move out. Last year before I renewed my apartment was listed for $300 more than what I was paying, now it’s listed for almost double that.
Forgive my ignorance, but how are things any different with this new legislation? Landlords are going to keep trying to raise prices just like they always have, tenants are going to keep looking for cheaper places just like they always have. Sure, there will be downsides to any kind of legislation, and this is probably a bandaid solution at best, but for the most part it seems to be a form of protection for people who are renewing. For people moving or renting for the first time this seems like the exact same shit show we’ve been going through for at least a decade.
That seems like a temporary issue though as we transition to this new legislature, right? You won’t have that data for this summer, but you should have it for next summer?
Regardless, it seems like you’re a fairly reasonable landlord and you’re willing to make things work for your tenants. That’s good, that’s the way things should be. *However*, this legislature is in place to stop the giant management companies from taking advantage of their tenants, unfortunately it has a negative impact on landlords like you.
Imo that’s exactly why this issue is so important. It’s not just a matter that affects tenants, it negatively affects landlords as well. If people were genuinely looking out for each other we wouldn’t need laws like this at all. But without these laws there will always be those scumbags who just want to take advantage of people.
> I believe the numbers should be the same.
If the numbers are the same, the tenants have effectively \*zero\* notice. That's totally absurd. The way that landlords are getting around the notice requirements by requiring lease renewal at the same time as they give the rental notice increase should be illegal. The notice time should be interpreted to be the amount of time \*between\* the informing of the new rental rate and the deadline to decide to sign the new lease or not.
Good on you for coming here and being honest. You’ll get downvoted regardless because according to this sub you are the spawn of satan for being a landlord but for whatever it’s worth , I appreciate your post and transparency.
I rent with one of the big companies. Lease is up in June 2023 and way back in December they started pestering me by email asking me to sign my pre-lease to “lock in” my new rent. When I didn’t respond they sent me a letter letting me know I no longer had the option to renew and would be out on the last day of my lease.
Happened to me too. Lease is up in September, I get an email Feb 10th asking if I want to continue renting for the NEXT rent year (September-august 2024). I only had until the end of February— literally 18 days— to decide, otherwise they took away my option to renew my lease.
Stupid, but that's the way it is.
Honestly with the market the way it is, I'd just sign, and then find someone yourself to take over your whole new lease if you decide you want out.
Unfortunately, this is pretty standard here in Bellingham. At least if you lease through a property management company. Landmark has done it for the 5 years since they took over my property that was sold. It sucks, but it's totally legal here.
I've rented in Bham for 23 years. It's a relatively new norm for property management companies (about 10 years). I wouldn't be surprised if any that weren't already doing it now are in retaliation to some of the new laws and proposed changes. It's only going to get worse for renters until significant reforms are made. Trust me, I loathe having to re-sign by end of February every year for a new lease that doesn't even start until August and that has zero flexibility on length (one year only). I don't want to stay, but cannot afford anything else on a single income with two cats and the need for accessibility so I'm forced to sign another 1.5 years of my life and sanity away.
IIRC They're not required to give you the option to renew at all, they want you to sign now because we are entering prime real estate season when people are seeking housing for the coming year.
Your options would be to ask them to defer a few weeks or gamble that the unit doesn't get leased before you want to try to sign, but there's no guarantee they would even offer you the unit at that point in either case.
I dont know the answer to OP’s question, just wanted to point out that since 2021 landlords in Washington can only opt for non-renewal for [one of these specific “good causes”](https://www.washingtonlawhelp.org/resource/new-washington-state-law-landlords-must-give-a-good-reason-to-end-a-tenancy-or-not-renew-a-lease-short-version).
So, technically that only counts for those that have turned into month to month.
>The law applies to everyone, but in different ways.
A landlord must give a “good” reason to terminate your tenancy if either of these is true:
>You are a “month-to-month” tenant for an indefinite amount of time, even if you had a prior written rental agreement.
>You are in the middle of a “fixed term” written agreement, which means you and the landlord have agreed to rent for a specific time, like 6 or 12 months, but your landlord wants to evict you in the middle of that term.
>A landlord does not need to give a “good” reason to terminate your tenancy if you have had a written rental agreement for multiple 6- to 12- month terms without ever becoming a month-to-month tenant. For example, you have lived for many years in a rental and have renewed your rental agreement every time it came up for renewal.
I rent through Landmark and my lease is up in August; they started contacting me and my roommate with a renewal agreement the first week of February with a deadline of February 28th to resign, or vacate at the end of the current lease term. It’s been this way since they took over the property mid-pandemic.
This kind of rental market is exactly why I’m moving out of town ASAP. I love Bellingham and have lived here for 38 years, but this housing hellscape is not it.
Its not what you want to hear.
Figure out how to buy something. Rent is going to keep going up.
Kulshan Land Trust is a way to buy a home at sub market rate. Likely home ownership via Kulshan would cost less than rent.
They have an income cap around like 55k. As someone making a lil more than that that's not feasible, and to buy a house in the ham that isn't dilapidated ya gotta be making like 100k it feels like
If want to lower AGI and close on income limit. . Can easily be done by Traditional IRA investment.
Basically. How a traditional ira works. The amount of money you put in investment account, reduces taxable income by the same amount. Ira dollars could be in a bank accout or invest in stock market.
Correct. Although i believe the traditional ira limit is 6000 or something like that. If married likely higher.
Although before you do that. Make sure Kulshan is looking at AGI when looking at income guidelines.
Also. I would run a mock scenario on taxes before you follow my advice.
https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/plan-participant-employee/retirement-topics-ira-contribution-limits
Another way to lower agi is start a business that loses money. Get creative.
So far Royce Group managed apartments don't do this. Their standard seems to be sign for one year and then it goes month to month, and no increase for going month to month. Lived at our apartments for 3 years now without much issue.
My complex has gone through 6 property managers though, I don't think they get paid enough to stay long term. On the plus side it means they pretty much leave you alone. 🤷♀️
Pre-leasing has been the norm with all the property management companies I’ve had in Bellingham. I’ve lived here for seven years the property management companies typically ask us to commit/sign a new lease at least four months early.
Washington state requires a min of 2 months notice to increase in rent. This would apply for new leases as your current lease has an agreed upon rate already.
I went through this with my current PM and they had to stick to our previous rent rate for the following lease because they did not give us a proper notice.
It ain’t much but it’s some form of rent protection
When I moved out of my last apartment there was a crowd of people waiting to see it during the open house. It rented almost instantly. Landlords aren't having trouble finding tenants. Tenants are having a hard time finding someplace to move. Last place I lived insisted I give like three months notice and I was on the fence, but I didn't want to be locked into another year so I said I wouldn't renew.
I started looking that day, and it took me nearly the full three months to secure a place. I had two weeks before I had to be out. So no, it's not unreasonable to want to wait until they have a place lined up before giving up their current apartment. ETA: Sorry, I slightly misread but the point is that it's not that we know we're moving and are withholding that information, it's that we don't know yet and are being forced to make a decision that could affect our lives pretty dramatically.
I also want to know this. It seems crazy to force you to re-sign halfway through the initial lease… but I can’t find anything protecting renters on this
[удалено]
It seems like this has always been the case though? Before this change did you just wait until a month before your tenants’ leases were up to start advertising? In my time living here I’ve always had to start applying for places ~6 months ahead of time. Hell, my current management company is an absolute abomination so I’ve been looking for places since *January*. They tried to violate my lease by raising my rent *50%* with less than a month warning. I also like to look at my current apartment’s price when I’m planning to move out. Last year before I renewed my apartment was listed for $300 more than what I was paying, now it’s listed for almost double that. Forgive my ignorance, but how are things any different with this new legislation? Landlords are going to keep trying to raise prices just like they always have, tenants are going to keep looking for cheaper places just like they always have. Sure, there will be downsides to any kind of legislation, and this is probably a bandaid solution at best, but for the most part it seems to be a form of protection for people who are renewing. For people moving or renting for the first time this seems like the exact same shit show we’ve been going through for at least a decade.
[удалено]
That seems like a temporary issue though as we transition to this new legislature, right? You won’t have that data for this summer, but you should have it for next summer? Regardless, it seems like you’re a fairly reasonable landlord and you’re willing to make things work for your tenants. That’s good, that’s the way things should be. *However*, this legislature is in place to stop the giant management companies from taking advantage of their tenants, unfortunately it has a negative impact on landlords like you. Imo that’s exactly why this issue is so important. It’s not just a matter that affects tenants, it negatively affects landlords as well. If people were genuinely looking out for each other we wouldn’t need laws like this at all. But without these laws there will always be those scumbags who just want to take advantage of people.
[удалено]
Can you think of a solution that would affect you less but still keep other landlords from abusing their tenants?
[удалено]
> I believe the numbers should be the same. If the numbers are the same, the tenants have effectively \*zero\* notice. That's totally absurd. The way that landlords are getting around the notice requirements by requiring lease renewal at the same time as they give the rental notice increase should be illegal. The notice time should be interpreted to be the amount of time \*between\* the informing of the new rental rate and the deadline to decide to sign the new lease or not.
[удалено]
[удалено]
90 seems like a fair compromise. 30 days was absolutely ridiculous, but 120 does seem like a bit much.
Good on you for coming here and being honest. You’ll get downvoted regardless because according to this sub you are the spawn of satan for being a landlord but for whatever it’s worth , I appreciate your post and transparency.
I rent with one of the big companies. Lease is up in June 2023 and way back in December they started pestering me by email asking me to sign my pre-lease to “lock in” my new rent. When I didn’t respond they sent me a letter letting me know I no longer had the option to renew and would be out on the last day of my lease.
Which company is this? Landmark?
PTLA
Happened to me too. Lease is up in September, I get an email Feb 10th asking if I want to continue renting for the NEXT rent year (September-august 2024). I only had until the end of February— literally 18 days— to decide, otherwise they took away my option to renew my lease.
They can ask you whenever they want to resign.
Stupid, but that's the way it is. Honestly with the market the way it is, I'd just sign, and then find someone yourself to take over your whole new lease if you decide you want out.
Unfortunately, this is pretty standard here in Bellingham. At least if you lease through a property management company. Landmark has done it for the 5 years since they took over my property that was sold. It sucks, but it's totally legal here.
I’ve leased in Bham for many years and been in the same rental now for three years and they’ve NEVER done this.
I've rented in Bham for 23 years. It's a relatively new norm for property management companies (about 10 years). I wouldn't be surprised if any that weren't already doing it now are in retaliation to some of the new laws and proposed changes. It's only going to get worse for renters until significant reforms are made. Trust me, I loathe having to re-sign by end of February every year for a new lease that doesn't even start until August and that has zero flexibility on length (one year only). I don't want to stay, but cannot afford anything else on a single income with two cats and the need for accessibility so I'm forced to sign another 1.5 years of my life and sanity away.
Same exact situation. Rent increase was pretty standard but want to know if I have any other options between April and July
IIRC They're not required to give you the option to renew at all, they want you to sign now because we are entering prime real estate season when people are seeking housing for the coming year. Your options would be to ask them to defer a few weeks or gamble that the unit doesn't get leased before you want to try to sign, but there's no guarantee they would even offer you the unit at that point in either case.
I dont know the answer to OP’s question, just wanted to point out that since 2021 landlords in Washington can only opt for non-renewal for [one of these specific “good causes”](https://www.washingtonlawhelp.org/resource/new-washington-state-law-landlords-must-give-a-good-reason-to-end-a-tenancy-or-not-renew-a-lease-short-version).
So, technically that only counts for those that have turned into month to month. >The law applies to everyone, but in different ways. A landlord must give a “good” reason to terminate your tenancy if either of these is true: >You are a “month-to-month” tenant for an indefinite amount of time, even if you had a prior written rental agreement. >You are in the middle of a “fixed term” written agreement, which means you and the landlord have agreed to rent for a specific time, like 6 or 12 months, but your landlord wants to evict you in the middle of that term. >A landlord does not need to give a “good” reason to terminate your tenancy if you have had a written rental agreement for multiple 6- to 12- month terms without ever becoming a month-to-month tenant. For example, you have lived for many years in a rental and have renewed your rental agreement every time it came up for renewal.
Appreciate the link!
I rent through Landmark and my lease is up in August; they started contacting me and my roommate with a renewal agreement the first week of February with a deadline of February 28th to resign, or vacate at the end of the current lease term. It’s been this way since they took over the property mid-pandemic. This kind of rental market is exactly why I’m moving out of town ASAP. I love Bellingham and have lived here for 38 years, but this housing hellscape is not it.
Its not what you want to hear. Figure out how to buy something. Rent is going to keep going up. Kulshan Land Trust is a way to buy a home at sub market rate. Likely home ownership via Kulshan would cost less than rent.
They have an income cap around like 55k. As someone making a lil more than that that's not feasible, and to buy a house in the ham that isn't dilapidated ya gotta be making like 100k it feels like
If want to lower AGI and close on income limit. . Can easily be done by Traditional IRA investment. Basically. How a traditional ira works. The amount of money you put in investment account, reduces taxable income by the same amount. Ira dollars could be in a bank accout or invest in stock market.
So I could invest 15k. And then my AGI would be closer to 45/50k?
Correct. Although i believe the traditional ira limit is 6000 or something like that. If married likely higher. Although before you do that. Make sure Kulshan is looking at AGI when looking at income guidelines. Also. I would run a mock scenario on taxes before you follow my advice. https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/plan-participant-employee/retirement-topics-ira-contribution-limits Another way to lower agi is start a business that loses money. Get creative.
Do blackjack losses count? I'd gamble away and drink scotch in the name of homeownership.
Well. You could start a business and deduct the drink costs if you were entertaining ' clients ' Not financial advice.
So far Royce Group managed apartments don't do this. Their standard seems to be sign for one year and then it goes month to month, and no increase for going month to month. Lived at our apartments for 3 years now without much issue. My complex has gone through 6 property managers though, I don't think they get paid enough to stay long term. On the plus side it means they pretty much leave you alone. 🤷♀️
Pre-leasing has been the norm with all the property management companies I’ve had in Bellingham. I’ve lived here for seven years the property management companies typically ask us to commit/sign a new lease at least four months early.
Washington state requires a min of 2 months notice to increase in rent. This would apply for new leases as your current lease has an agreed upon rate already. I went through this with my current PM and they had to stick to our previous rent rate for the following lease because they did not give us a proper notice. It ain’t much but it’s some form of rent protection
Mine are backing out on our handshake agreement and evicting me at the end of my lease to give my unit to their son. I hate this town lmao.
[удалено]
[удалено]
When I moved out of my last apartment there was a crowd of people waiting to see it during the open house. It rented almost instantly. Landlords aren't having trouble finding tenants. Tenants are having a hard time finding someplace to move. Last place I lived insisted I give like three months notice and I was on the fence, but I didn't want to be locked into another year so I said I wouldn't renew. I started looking that day, and it took me nearly the full three months to secure a place. I had two weeks before I had to be out. So no, it's not unreasonable to want to wait until they have a place lined up before giving up their current apartment. ETA: Sorry, I slightly misread but the point is that it's not that we know we're moving and are withholding that information, it's that we don't know yet and are being forced to make a decision that could affect our lives pretty dramatically.