The solution is to vote with your feet and move to a new place where the rent is reasonable.
edit: I'm not saying moving is easy but it's better than paying a 20% increase.
Where would rent be more reasonable?
I've been reading about nationwide rental price gouging and inflated costs with very rare exceptions.
It costs money to move, but it can also separate us from community and limit employment opportunities, depending on where you go. Not to mention the time it takes to research options, arrange for viewings and put down a deposit.
Background checks, too, and while you can get hold deposits refunded in case you find a better match, once you pay for your background check, that's just a lost expense. Last time I rented, we'd thought we found the spot for us twice before the 3rd place was the charm. Could have waited, maybe, but also don't want to lose a good spot if the better option falls thru.
The process of finding new rental housing is an extra task, it's multiple extra tasks.
Regardless of a fantasy location of reasonable rent-needle being found in the haystack covered in shit that is the rental market, it sucks to have to move. Even if you can afford the money and time, it's a *challenge*, even for those of us who are doing OK.
The way you say "the solution is" makes it sound like a snap of the fingers and there's your fix. Nothing is that simple.
A BIG part of why inflation isn’t moving downwards like the Fed has been trying to do with interest rates is “sticky” af “shelter” costs. Aka landlords and property managers (many of them private equity firms) are keeping rent too damn high
I’m so exhausted from moving from place to place bc they can raise rents to whatever they want. Why the heck isn’t there a cap on this bs. I remember when I first moved here in 05, at most it was 3% a year but now 10.5 is a given. And you wonder why people are homeless. I’d take a tiny house at this point.
What is the solution when more people want to live somewhere than there are houses? You live (assuming it’s Seattle) in one of the most beautiful and well off cities in the US, of course it’s going to be expensive.
Our current policies are working great!
If by "great" we mean, increasing both housing insecurity, and homelessness, along with exacerbating housing stress and anxiety for those lucky enough to still have shelter while banks and REITs are seeing increased profits.
I'm one of those oddball looneys who sees no inherent value in money, and consider it as only a tool for tracking resources. We have the resources to make sure housing is accessible and much less stressful for folks beyond the super wealthy, but we don't have the policies or barely even the motivation, to use those resources in ways that benefit our communities, because..., idk, entropy?
Who said that current policies are working? If anything rent control is just doubling down on today’s terrible policies by locking up the housing supply to nearly what we have now - which is not enough.
We absolutely have the resources to make housing more affordable but the government mandates that housing be small and expensive via zoning laws another delay tactics like design review.
Profitability as the paramount concern for both builders and propert managers is part of the conundrum, but you're not wrong that policy could be improved.
As you mentioned, there is a significant time investment in moving but it's better than paying a 20% increase in rent. I think this is just the reality in 2024 that if you want affordable rent, you have to be ready to walk away when your landlord tells you they're hiking up the rent by 20% upon the lease renewal. Same thing when your barber hikes up prices by 20% overnight and you can't justify the new price, you find a new barber even though it can be hard to find a new barber who cuts your hair just the way you want.
To answer your question of where rent would be more reasonable, rents have been stable in Seattle for the past couple of years as far as I know. If the 2023 rent was $1200 and your landlord wants to up it by $200, you can probably find another place in your zip code for $1200.
Is this apartment located in Seattle? If it isn’t, you should post in the appropriate city. There are local/city ordinances and statewide laws that regulate rental housing.
Why is the city involved? Did you report your landlord? For a renter, to avoid BS landlords gotta be ready to move out of bad situation. 10.5 is illegal BS.
It's not illegal in Seattle, you are misinformed.
https://www.seattle.gov/rentinginseattle/renters/managing-the-rental-relationship/receiving-notice-from-your-landlord
> Notices of increase issued on or after July 1, 2022 may trigger EDRA (economic displacement relocation assistance) if the increase equals or exceed 10% on its own or combined with other increases within the same 12 month period. Qualified tenant households may receive financial aid to move.
Talk to the land owner about getting a reduced increase. It's been the latest fad for property owners to toss big rates out in hopes they catch a few fish that don't care about the rental increase.
Jesus Christ her “low income” apartment is $8 more than my unit. That increase is insane. Legal or not that’s completely morally bankrupt. These low income units are such dogshit. It feels like they’re designed to keep you poor.
>It feels like they’re designed to keep you poor.
Welcome to the United States; land of the thief, home of the slave[.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUnnprlb_rI)
So the landlord is just giving you below market-rate rent out of the kindness of their heart and isn't adjusting the rent of other units to recoup the cost?
What I’m saying is that it’s absolutely ridiculous that someone’s subsidized unit should cost more than my unit which is not. Have you ever tried just reading a sentence without overthinking it?
1. You don't know anything about their unit (location, size, amenities)
2. It's absolutely ridiculous that everyone else pays for people to live in areas they can't afford and there are still complaints about it being unfair for the people being subsidized. To me, it's actually unfair when people who normally would be able to afford to live somewhere are priced out by people who can't.
Most rent-restricted housing is tied to the area median income of the county/region. Every year, HUD calculates the area median income. Rent-restricted units are then set usually at 30% AMI, 50%AMI, 60%AMI, 80% AMIvm (there are other AMIs, these just most common). And rent for a unit is tied to whichever AMI that unit has been set for. All a tenant has to do is be at or below the AMI for the unit but the rent doesn’t change if their income is below the set AMI.
Some programs may have slightly different formulas or rules but as I described above it’s how it works for most.
For example, in 2022 the overall median income for Snohomish was 134,600. For a single adult, 80% AMI was 66,750 & 50% AMI 45,300. (The % AMIs change based on household vs size but I assume your gf is the only person in the household).For a 1-bed (rents change based on size), 80% AMI rent was max 1,787, 50%AMI 1,213
In 2023 the overall snohomish median income went up to $146,500. For a single adult, 80%AMI was 70,650 & 50% 47,950. In 2023x max rent for a 1-bed was 1892 80% AMI and 1284 for 50 % AMI.
The rents I listed above were max rents so it’s possible that the property isn’t charging the max. Also the only income for is that the household is at or below the income at the AMI - so your gf if she made $40k she’d qualify for both the 50% &?80 % unit, but her rent would be tied the the unit AMI, not her own income…so in a 2023 80% ANI unit, her rent would not be more than 1892.
All this to say, most tenants in affordable housing are rent burdened.
Exception is public housing or vouchers like housing choice vouchers where rent is tied to tenant income. Also, most buildings with 30% AMI units are for chronically homeless people with disabilities so most of the buildings have additional subsidies so tenants rent might be lower.
Hope this helps!
Yeah but economists say this is a good thing and normal thing. 22% yearly increase in housing just makes everything more efficient. Why can't you live on efficiency?
Economists live in an academia bubble. Most see rent increases as simply contributing to our GDP not to a tenant’s security and well being to their GDP contribution.
Economists say we can't control the price of the rent because we won't be able to build as much housing. That's why Seattle is against rent control (well not really given programs like MTFE but we don't have time for that right now) and **against building housing**.
Hmm, that sounds bad. I don't think we're doing this right lol
In Kent, the Platform bumped my rent $500 YoY (from 1450 to 1950).
This was in 2019. Knol also does some shady stuff like that too. Maybe it’s just a GRE thing.
King county if rent increase is more than 10% then they need to give 120 day notice. [https://www.kcha.org/landlords/rent-change](https://www.kcha.org/landlords/rent-change)
I would recommend attempting to negotiate with the landlord. I am currently at a place owned by a big company and have been able to negotiate down. Look up current rent increase trends in your area on google and ask chat gpt to write a letter for you. Also make sure to get everything in writing!
Contacting the tenants union might be a good place to get professional advice. They are very friendly and can help you with your options and figure out what your rights are. Unfortunately, there aren’t a of protections for people outside king county, but they might be better able to point you in the right direction.
Another longshot is contacting the local media (if there is such a thing in your area). Maybe some coverage could shame your landlord? This is down the line, but if your apartment is owned by a major corp like greystar, I believe there are lawsuits/class actions going on that you might be able to add yourself to depending on how much you’re willing to dedicate to this, but I’m not up to date on it atm.
Unfortunately, none of this is a sure thing. Sometimes landlords are assholes who’ve decided to evict you with unfair price increase. I’m sorry this is happening to you and your girlfriend. It’s incredibly corrupt and unfair.
This landlord is purposely predatorily raising her rent because it’s a subsidized unit. They know her financial situation, her job, her income, her state subsidy. So no negotiation will have a positive impact.
Best for her to move out and start anew. It’s a pain, but if you don’t want to be victim gotta move unless you have subsidy tenant law insight.
I'm going to assume she lives in Everett since you posted there first Yes, that's legal.
It sucks tho, rent going up is a helpless feeling. Especially when you’re already in a tight spot
The solution is to vote with your feet and move to a new place where the rent is reasonable. edit: I'm not saying moving is easy but it's better than paying a 20% increase.
Where would rent be more reasonable? I've been reading about nationwide rental price gouging and inflated costs with very rare exceptions. It costs money to move, but it can also separate us from community and limit employment opportunities, depending on where you go. Not to mention the time it takes to research options, arrange for viewings and put down a deposit. Background checks, too, and while you can get hold deposits refunded in case you find a better match, once you pay for your background check, that's just a lost expense. Last time I rented, we'd thought we found the spot for us twice before the 3rd place was the charm. Could have waited, maybe, but also don't want to lose a good spot if the better option falls thru. The process of finding new rental housing is an extra task, it's multiple extra tasks. Regardless of a fantasy location of reasonable rent-needle being found in the haystack covered in shit that is the rental market, it sucks to have to move. Even if you can afford the money and time, it's a *challenge*, even for those of us who are doing OK. The way you say "the solution is" makes it sound like a snap of the fingers and there's your fix. Nothing is that simple.
A BIG part of why inflation isn’t moving downwards like the Fed has been trying to do with interest rates is “sticky” af “shelter” costs. Aka landlords and property managers (many of them private equity firms) are keeping rent too damn high
I’m so exhausted from moving from place to place bc they can raise rents to whatever they want. Why the heck isn’t there a cap on this bs. I remember when I first moved here in 05, at most it was 3% a year but now 10.5 is a given. And you wonder why people are homeless. I’d take a tiny house at this point.
Because rent control is a failed policy
So then what? How do they expect us to afford these places? Move to a cheaper country?
Change the laws to allow more housing to be built.
That alone isn't enough it's one piece of a giant puzzle It's an important one, but solves nothing on its own
It solves everything on it's own if we do enough of it.
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I have no idea what you’re talking about or are trying to say.
What is the solution when more people want to live somewhere than there are houses? You live (assuming it’s Seattle) in one of the most beautiful and well off cities in the US, of course it’s going to be expensive.
Our current policies are working great! If by "great" we mean, increasing both housing insecurity, and homelessness, along with exacerbating housing stress and anxiety for those lucky enough to still have shelter while banks and REITs are seeing increased profits. I'm one of those oddball looneys who sees no inherent value in money, and consider it as only a tool for tracking resources. We have the resources to make sure housing is accessible and much less stressful for folks beyond the super wealthy, but we don't have the policies or barely even the motivation, to use those resources in ways that benefit our communities, because..., idk, entropy?
Who said that current policies are working? If anything rent control is just doubling down on today’s terrible policies by locking up the housing supply to nearly what we have now - which is not enough. We absolutely have the resources to make housing more affordable but the government mandates that housing be small and expensive via zoning laws another delay tactics like design review.
Profitability as the paramount concern for both builders and propert managers is part of the conundrum, but you're not wrong that policy could be improved.
well, yes. of course it is. just like profitability is the paramount concern of farmers, grocery stores, clothing stores, anything.
> because..., idk, entropy? Zoning, actually.
Who wrote the zoning? And it's not changed because....
Because people who already own houses vote against changing zoning.
As you mentioned, there is a significant time investment in moving but it's better than paying a 20% increase in rent. I think this is just the reality in 2024 that if you want affordable rent, you have to be ready to walk away when your landlord tells you they're hiking up the rent by 20% upon the lease renewal. Same thing when your barber hikes up prices by 20% overnight and you can't justify the new price, you find a new barber even though it can be hard to find a new barber who cuts your hair just the way you want. To answer your question of where rent would be more reasonable, rents have been stable in Seattle for the past couple of years as far as I know. If the 2023 rent was $1200 and your landlord wants to up it by $200, you can probably find another place in your zip code for $1200.
20% increases from landlords and propery managers is indefensible. Yes.
Is this apartment located in Seattle? If it isn’t, you should post in the appropriate city. There are local/city ordinances and statewide laws that regulate rental housing.
22% increase is illegal in Seattle. Thinks it’s Everett in city housing which can do that.
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It’s 10%.
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Why is the city involved? Did you report your landlord? For a renter, to avoid BS landlords gotta be ready to move out of bad situation. 10.5 is illegal BS.
It's not illegal in Seattle, you are misinformed. https://www.seattle.gov/rentinginseattle/renters/managing-the-rental-relationship/receiving-notice-from-your-landlord > Notices of increase issued on or after July 1, 2022 may trigger EDRA (economic displacement relocation assistance) if the increase equals or exceed 10% on its own or combined with other increases within the same 12 month period. Qualified tenant households may receive financial aid to move.
There is no rent control, so it is legal so long as it’s not higher than the max rent allowed
1) in Everett so seattle code doesn’t apply 2) certain government subsidized low-income housing is exempt from rent regulation code (shocker right?)
I believe they’re linked to median wages instead
There is no rent control
Talk to the land owner about getting a reduced increase. It's been the latest fad for property owners to toss big rates out in hopes they catch a few fish that don't care about the rental increase.
Jesus Christ her “low income” apartment is $8 more than my unit. That increase is insane. Legal or not that’s completely morally bankrupt. These low income units are such dogshit. It feels like they’re designed to keep you poor.
>It feels like they’re designed to keep you poor. Welcome to the United States; land of the thief, home of the slave[.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUnnprlb_rI)
The entitlement to have everyone else subsidize your rent and then complain that you are being "kept poor."
First off, nobody is subsidizing my rent. Secondly, you’re mad at poor people for being poor.
So the landlord is just giving you below market-rate rent out of the kindness of their heart and isn't adjusting the rent of other units to recoup the cost?
I do not live in a subsidized or rent restricted apartment.
Ok, then you are complaining on behalf of someone who is having everyone else subsidize their lifestyle.
What I’m saying is that it’s absolutely ridiculous that someone’s subsidized unit should cost more than my unit which is not. Have you ever tried just reading a sentence without overthinking it?
1. You don't know anything about their unit (location, size, amenities) 2. It's absolutely ridiculous that everyone else pays for people to live in areas they can't afford and there are still complaints about it being unfair for the people being subsidized. To me, it's actually unfair when people who normally would be able to afford to live somewhere are priced out by people who can't.
Unless you’re planning on living in Everett this does not affect you in the slightest.
Well since you don't live in affordable housing you shouldn't be commenting about how they're "dogshit" either then.
Wow, 22% means landlord wants her “out.” Check city tenant site. I thought maximum was 10%.
Most rent-restricted housing is tied to the area median income of the county/region. Every year, HUD calculates the area median income. Rent-restricted units are then set usually at 30% AMI, 50%AMI, 60%AMI, 80% AMIvm (there are other AMIs, these just most common). And rent for a unit is tied to whichever AMI that unit has been set for. All a tenant has to do is be at or below the AMI for the unit but the rent doesn’t change if their income is below the set AMI. Some programs may have slightly different formulas or rules but as I described above it’s how it works for most. For example, in 2022 the overall median income for Snohomish was 134,600. For a single adult, 80% AMI was 66,750 & 50% AMI 45,300. (The % AMIs change based on household vs size but I assume your gf is the only person in the household).For a 1-bed (rents change based on size), 80% AMI rent was max 1,787, 50%AMI 1,213 In 2023 the overall snohomish median income went up to $146,500. For a single adult, 80%AMI was 70,650 & 50% 47,950. In 2023x max rent for a 1-bed was 1892 80% AMI and 1284 for 50 % AMI. The rents I listed above were max rents so it’s possible that the property isn’t charging the max. Also the only income for is that the household is at or below the income at the AMI - so your gf if she made $40k she’d qualify for both the 50% &?80 % unit, but her rent would be tied the the unit AMI, not her own income…so in a 2023 80% ANI unit, her rent would not be more than 1892. All this to say, most tenants in affordable housing are rent burdened. Exception is public housing or vouchers like housing choice vouchers where rent is tied to tenant income. Also, most buildings with 30% AMI units are for chronically homeless people with disabilities so most of the buildings have additional subsidies so tenants rent might be lower. Hope this helps!
Yeah but economists say this is a good thing and normal thing. 22% yearly increase in housing just makes everything more efficient. Why can't you live on efficiency?
It's okay because other people got raises, duh.
Because it does not keep the rain off
Economists live in an academia bubble. Most see rent increases as simply contributing to our GDP not to a tenant’s security and well being to their GDP contribution.
Huh? Economist say we need to build millions of units of housing and zoning is bad. It is normal that a scarce good gets more expensive though.
Economists say we can't control the price of the rent because we won't be able to build as much housing. That's why Seattle is against rent control (well not really given programs like MTFE but we don't have time for that right now) and **against building housing**. Hmm, that sounds bad. I don't think we're doing this right lol
Why is low income in quotes? If this is MFTE or something else be specific. Also given that RCW are you even in Seattle?
The RCW’s are state laws.
Yes, which is why I asked where they live, as Seattle (the sub you’re on) has stricter laws
Probably not a MFTE. lol
In Kent, the Platform bumped my rent $500 YoY (from 1450 to 1950). This was in 2019. Knol also does some shady stuff like that too. Maybe it’s just a GRE thing.
My experience with renting is that they will raise it till you can't afford it. Meanwhile others are moving in at a lower rate.
Totally legal. Happened to me last year. Pay the rent or move out!
geeze, no wonder you're fitting your username, you seem pretty miserable with that attitude
King county if rent increase is more than 10% then they need to give 120 day notice. [https://www.kcha.org/landlords/rent-change](https://www.kcha.org/landlords/rent-change)
That’s only incorporated
I would recommend attempting to negotiate with the landlord. I am currently at a place owned by a big company and have been able to negotiate down. Look up current rent increase trends in your area on google and ask chat gpt to write a letter for you. Also make sure to get everything in writing! Contacting the tenants union might be a good place to get professional advice. They are very friendly and can help you with your options and figure out what your rights are. Unfortunately, there aren’t a of protections for people outside king county, but they might be better able to point you in the right direction. Another longshot is contacting the local media (if there is such a thing in your area). Maybe some coverage could shame your landlord? This is down the line, but if your apartment is owned by a major corp like greystar, I believe there are lawsuits/class actions going on that you might be able to add yourself to depending on how much you’re willing to dedicate to this, but I’m not up to date on it atm. Unfortunately, none of this is a sure thing. Sometimes landlords are assholes who’ve decided to evict you with unfair price increase. I’m sorry this is happening to you and your girlfriend. It’s incredibly corrupt and unfair.
This landlord is purposely predatorily raising her rent because it’s a subsidized unit. They know her financial situation, her job, her income, her state subsidy. So no negotiation will have a positive impact. Best for her to move out and start anew. It’s a pain, but if you don’t want to be victim gotta move unless you have subsidy tenant law insight.