In an effort to address our affordable housing crisis, as of Sept. 30, it will be illegal for landlords to reject applicants solely for using public assistance to pay rent. Dealing with damages to their properties by any tenant is a fact of life, but can be more problematic with limited resources. The new Landlord Mitigation Program is designed to help offset concerns about damage and encourage partnerships to make more homes available for rent by tenants relying on using public assistance, such as Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Section 8 vouchers.
Landlords can learn more about the program and apply for reimbursement of damages at http://Commerce.wa.gov/landlordfund