You are receiving this update because you attended the Renters' Summit, requested information on housing issues, or have contacted my office. Your participation in our work is vital, please continue to contact my office with suggestions or comments about how to make our city even better. The flurry of media coverage and wide-ranging interest in the Summit has pushed renters' issues into the forefront and created support for innovative city policies. A common concern that emerged from the event is that Seattle must remain a place where everyone can afford to live. We must work to keep our city affordable for the diverse people who have always lived here, or the Seattle we know will be lost forever.
Affordable units are in short supply.
Job creation and in-migration have grown while the rental housing supply has not kept pace. Those who find housing face additional challenges to their quality of life. Proper maintenance and adherence to health and safety standards continues to be a problem for many renters. Renters, like homeowners, need to have a certain expectation of how much their rent will increase each year, giving them the stability to plan and budget accordingly. Renters also need to know that if basic amenities like water, heat, and power are not working, they can approach management without fear of retaliation.