City of Seattle Bans Evictions During Coldest Winter Months

Seattle’s City Council has passed an ordinance that bans landlords from evicting tenants during winter months. The ban covers low and moderate-income renters during the three coldest months of the year.  At the time of this writing, the ordinance was pending the Seattle Mayor’s signature.  The ordinance, if signed, would go into effect 30-days after signature.

The eviction ban is the first of its kind in the nation. The new ordinance bars landlords from evicting low- and moderate-income tenants for almost anything, even including unpaid rent or other lease violations, during the coldest times of the year.

Seattle, which is experiencing its own housing and homelessness crisis, has also experienced increasing rental prices due to job growth and housing demand from technology companies.  The eviction ban ordinance was proposed by Seattle’s socialist City Council member, Kshama Sawant, and passed by the full City Council.  The ban will remain in place for only the wettest, coldest months of the year and will remain in place just for those three months, December through the end of February.  Ms. Sawant had originally proposed a five month ban on evictions.

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