In 2010 the City Council passed Ordinance No. 123311 establishing a Residential Rental Business License and Inspection Program. However, recognizing the need for additional consideration of program details and policy issues, the Council also adopted Resolution No. 31221 requesting DPD to gather stakeholder input and develop program recommendations concerning twelve specific policy questions. Detailed information on the resolution and stakeholder process is available here www.seattle.gov/dpd/Compliance/RentalHousing/Overview/default.asp.
To respond to the Council request and implement related policies in the Seattle Comprehensive Plan, the Department is proposing a program for registering and inspecting rental housing. Program elements would include: (1) registering most rental housing and inspecting properties on a randomly-selected basis; (2) inspecting properties with a history of code violations; (3) engaging in significant outreach and education effort for tenants, landlords and property managers to promote knowledge of the City rental housing regulations, including the proposed registration requirement and standards for maintaining rental properties; (4) engaging in outreach to other organizations and public agencies to identify poorly-maintained rental housing; (5) and providing relocation assistance to mitigate negative impacts on displaced tenants. The report can be read here www.seattle.gov/dpd/Compliance/RentalHousing/Overview/default.asp.