Landlord Protection Service, Inc.

08/06/2022

A federal appeals court has appeared skeptical of a Seattle law preventing landlords from criminal background checks of prospective tenants,

08/06/2022

The Seattle City Council has approved an ordinance requiring landlords twice a year to report how much rent they charge and other fees

31/12/2021

Happy New Year!
LPS will be closing at 1pm Friday 12/31. Normal hours will resume Monday.

24/12/2021

We wish you all a Merry Christmas! 🎄

27/08/2021

Supreme Court Blocks Eviction Moratorium!

“The moratorium has put…millions of landlords across the country, at risk of irreparable harm by depriving them of rent payments with no guarantee of eventual recovery,” the court said. “Many landlords have modest means. And preventing them from evicting tenants who breach their leases intrudes on one of the most fundamental elements of property ownership—the right to exclude.” Said the majority of 6 justices, in an unsigned decision, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.

In a decision late Thursday evening (8/26), The U.S. Supreme Court blocked the CDC from enforcing a federal moratorium on evictions that was recently reinstated by the Biden Administration. CNBC said called it a defeat for the Biden administration’s efforts to continue the eviction moratorium desp...

04/08/2021

NAA Sues to Recover Money Landlords Lost During Eviction Moratorium. This lawsuit is open to all rental housing providers who operated under the federal moratorium and who have been damaged by the CDC eviction moratorium. Click the link below to learn more:

The NAA filed suit in U.S. Court of Federal Claims to recover damages on behalf of landlords due to the CDC eviction moratorium

04/08/2021

CDC Extends Eviction Moratorium To October In Most Counties, even after the Supreme Court ruled they do not have the authority to do so...

The CDC eviction moratorium was extended to October because tenant evictions for non-payment of rent could be detrimental to public health

24/06/2021

Inslee announces eviction moratorium “bridge” effective 7/1/21 - 9/30/21

Gov. Jay Inslee announced a “bridge” proclamation today between the eviction moratorium and the housing stability programs put in place by the Legislature. The bridge is effective July 1 through September 30.

More than $650 million of federal relief dollars allocated to assist renters is predicted to be available beginning in July. This is in addition to the $500 million dollars previously released by the Department of Commerce to local governments for rental assistance and will help more than 80,000 landlords and renters.

“As we all know, COVID has had a significant economic impact on our state and a lot of Washingtonians are still experiencing financial hardships. That is why I put an eviction moratorium in place last year,” Inslee said during a press conference Thursday. “These are all reasonable steps and will help ensure that renters and landlords have the opportunity to receive support and resources that are available to them.”

The eviction moratorium bridge will allow for a transition to the tenant protections established in SB 5160, including the Eviction Resolution pilot programs and the Right to Counsel program for indigent tenants.

The bridge is not an extension of the existing eviction moratorium, first declared in March 2020. Under the new order, new provisions will support renters and landlords until resources and programs become available.

For past rent due from February 29, 2020 through July 31, 2021, landlords are prohibited from evicting a tenant until there is an operational rental assistance program and eviction resolution program in place in their county. Additionally, landlords are prohibited from treating past unpaid rent or other charges as an enforceable debt until the landlord and tenant have been provided with an opportunity to resolve nonpayment through an eviction resolution pilot program.

Beginning August 1, renters are expected to pay full rent, reduced rent negotiated with landlord, or actively seek rental assistance funding. Landlords may only evict a tenant if none of those actions are being taken but must offer the tenant a reasonable re-payment plan before beginning the eviction process. Tenants must also be provided, in writing, the services and support available.

Hotels and motels, Airbnbs, long-term care facilities and other non-traditional housing are exempt from the order.

The full proclamation and details will be available in the coming days.

Gov. Jay Inslee announced a “bridge” proclamation today between the eviction moratorium and the housing stability programs put in place by the Legislature. The bridge is effective July 1 through September 30.

24/06/2021

Three Seattle City Council bills related to rental housing will become law without Mayor Jenny Durkan’s signature.

Durkan declined to sign the bills last week, citing concerns about their legality. She also declined to veto the bills, predicting the council would override any vetoes.

Passed by the council earlier this month, the bills will provide a defense against most school-year evictions of students and school employees, require landlords to offer lease renewals in many cases, and prevent certain post-pandemic evictions.

The first bill will establish a defense against evictions during each school year for children and students, for their guardians and for educators — including evictions for missed rent. Tenants will be able to cite the bill in eviction court.

The second bill will require landlords to offer new leases to tenants with fixed-term leases before their existing leases expire, unless there are separate reasons the tenants can be evicted.

The third bill will establish a defense against evictions based on rent debts incurred during the pandemic, with that period defined by Seattle’s proclaimed COVID-19 emergency issued March 2020.

Tenant advocacy organizations supported the bills, arguing the new protections will help tenants stay in their homes. A number of property owners opposed the bills, describing them as unfair and arguing they will cause some small landlords to quit the rental market.

The council vote on the first bill was 6-1, while the votes on the second and third bills were 5-2. The bills will take effect next month.

“While we all have the same goals to prevent evictions, it is regrettable that City Council has passed these bills despite receiving legal advice that they are unlikely to withstand legal challenge,” Durkan wrote in a June 18 letter.

“These bills will yet again open the City up to legal liability and costs, spending valuable City resources that could be better spent actually helping vulnerable tenants to remain in their housing. Unfortunately, given the vote margins by the Council a veto is not viable,” the mayor added.

Several other rental laws passed by the council have been challenged in court. Judges in recent years have upheld limits on move-in fees and a requirement that landlords accept the first qualified applicant.

Mayor Jenny Durkan declined to sign three bills last week related to renters and leases, citing concerns about their legality. She also declined to veto the bills, predicting the council would override any vetoes.

16/06/2021

Seattle landlords, especially smaller landlords with rental property, have been put in a difficult position by the Seattle City Council.

16/06/2021

The Seattle City Council passed three ordinances restricting landlords rights on evictions and lease renewals dealing a blow to landlords

19/03/2021

Several Federal Courts Rule CDC Eviction Moratorium Unconstitutional

(UPDATED - see below) In late February, a federal judge in the Eastern District of Texas ruled that the CDC's moratorium on evictions was unconstitutional. According to the Business Insider, U.S. District Judge John Barker said that the creation of such a moratorium criminalizes the use of state leg...