New WA law targets discrimination against low-income renters

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A new law in Washington prevents landlords from turning down prospective tenants or evict current ones for paying some of their rent with vouchers or other government aid.

A change to the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act, signed Thursday by Governor Jay Inslee, prohibits discrimination against tenants based on their source of income, and allows for a civil suit to be filed if that happens. It also sets up a program in the state Department of Commerce that allows a landlord renting to tenants using a subsidy program to be reimbursed for certain damages to the rental unit.

The Landlord Mitigation Account will get its money from an increase in the fee charged by county auditors for recording documents, which will go from $10 to $13.  (Spokesman-Review)

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