Olympia looking to update rental housing code: wants public’s thoughts

Olympia is asking the community to provide input that may possibly make changes in the city’s rental housing policies.

The City of Olympia launched a page on its Engage Olympia website to solicit feedback through various surveys for home renters, landlords, and other interested parties which, the city says in a press release, will be used to consider changes in the city’s rental housing code.

“The goals of collecting input through the survey and focus groups include improving the stability of rental housing,” says the press release, “and identifying policies that balance much needed help for impacted renters with the rights and realities faced by landlords.”

The website adds that the survey’s results will be used on deciding code changes on the following issues:

• Registration of landlords
• Limits to nonrefundable fees, security deposits, and pet deposits
• Rent increase notice period extended

Rent control will not be discussed in the survey, which the website says is “prohibited by state law.”

Respondents to the survey may also be asked to take part in one of four focus groups, the press release adds, through online meetings:

1. For renter advocates on Mar. 3, 11:30 a.m.
2. For renters March 9, 5:30 p.m.;
3. For multi-family housing owners and property managers, property management companies, and housing developers and builders on March 10 at 1 p.m.
4. For smaller “mom and pop” rental owners and managers on March 23 at 5:30 p.m.

Thurston County Regional Planning Council has reported that Olympia is the only jurisdiction with the majority of its housing being renter-occupied in 2015-2019, totaling 53%.

Interested can take the survey here.