On September 24, 2021, Gov. Jay Inslee announced that due to the ongoing state of emergency in Washington, he will be extending the eviction moratorium bridge proclamation until October 31, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. The eviction moratorium for the state was originally set to expire on September 30, 2021, even though the majority of rental assistance funding has yet to be distributed.
Days prior, on September 21, 2021, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan announced that she would be extending eviction moratoriums for both residential and commercial evictions until January 15, 2022. This is the sixth time during the pandemic that Durkan has extended the eviction moratorium since March 14, 2020.
"Given the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency, the Emergency Order, dated March 16, 2020, imposing a moratorium on residential evictions is hereby extended through January 15, 2022, at which point the Emergency Moratorium on Residential Evictions will sunset and Ordinance 126075, which provides a defense against evictions due to hardships from COVID-19 for six months, goes into effect," stated the Executive Order 2021-07 extension.
The eviction moratorium on small businesses and non-profit commercial tenants is also extended through January 15, 2022. In addition, shutoff policies and utility relief flexible payment policies will be extended until January 15, 2022–Seattle City Light and Seattle Public Utilities will not resume disconnections for nonpayment and will continue to offer flexible payment plans.
"We led the way as the first major US city to be impacted by COVID-19. Every step of this pandemic, our residents and community listen to science and public health officials, which is why we have the lowest cases, hospitalizations, and deaths of every major city. Seattle continues to show the nation how to protect small businesses and residents by establishing and continuing one of the first in the nation moratoriums on evictions to keep families safe. Our early actions have and continue to keep people safe and housed," said Durkan.
So far, the City of Seattle has distributed over $15 million to tenants and landlords–since June–as the first allocation of the American Rescue Plan rent relief. Community-based organizations that focus on rental assistance for BIPOC communities have already been promised the remaining $6 million of the first allocation.
In August, $28 million of federal funding was authorized, and the city has been distributing these funds through nonprofit organizations such as United Way King County, which helps combat homelessness and poverty.
What exactly the extension of the executive order does
The eviction moratorium extension will prohibit landlords from issuing termination notices and eviction actions with the court system, unless the tenant poses an immediate threat to the health and safety of the community. Late fees, interest and additional charges regarding late rental payments are also prohibited. Tenants are still legally required to pay rent if feasible and landlords are encouraged to offer flexible payment plans. If a Seattle resident receives an eviction notice, they should contact the Renting in Seattle hotline at (206) 684-5700.
Nonprofit organizations and small business commercial tenants–which include independently owned facilities, facilities with 50 employees or less, state nonprofit organizations and 501(c)3 non-profit organizations–are also protected against evictions and late payment fees. The Utility Discount Program's Self Certification Pilot Program will be extended through October 31, 2021; it offers eligible Seattle residents an approximately 60% discount on Seattle City Light bills and an approximately 50% discount on Seattle Public Utilities. Furthermore, temporary parking zones for hospital and human services staff will be extended through January 15, 2022.
Where Washingtonians stand with rental payments
The US Census Bureau released its Household Pulse Survey, which gathers data on how different households and communities have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Survey data is released biweekly, and Week 37 (from September 1, 2021, to September 13, 2021) data follows: