Several recent changes to Seattle laws impact residential properties that require a Tenant Relocation License. The Right of First Refusal, SMC 7.24.030.J, requires owners to offer a lease renewal to existing tenants when their term lease is expiring unless there is just cause. To obtain just cause for development activity, you must obtain a Tenant Relocation License. Therefore, all properties that are tenant-occupied at the time of the permit application need to go through the Tenant Relocation Assistance Ordinance (TRAO) process regardless of whether the tenants have a term lease or are month-to-month. We highly recommend that you submit a service request for TRAO when you receive the notification that your project may require a license. If you wait until the end of the permitting process, your permits may be significantly delayed. You can submit a service request by calling (206) 615-0808.
April Publication Updates
We updated four Tips in April, one about small businesses and three relating to tenant information.
May Publication Updates
DPD released a new Tip about registering your rental property and updated the construction pre-submittal conference Tip. We also published a draft Director’s Rule on adjusting tenant relocation assistance amounts and a final Director’s Rule on updating the SEPA thresholds for urban centers and urban villages.
January 2012 Publication Updates
DPD updated CAM 123, Seattle’s Tenant Relocation Assistance Ordiance, to correct the assistance amount paid by the owner.
