Don’t Discriminate Against Section 8

It used to be that landlords could choose to not accept Section 8 vouchers. That changed on September 30th of this year when a new law went into effect. This law now prohibits residential landlords in Washington from discriminating between tenants based on their source of income. This law prohibits a list of specific actions so it should be read in its entirety. 

Of particular note, landlords who advertise that they will not take Section 8 vouchers may now get into legal trouble. Liability may be as much as four and one half times the monthly rent plus attorneys’ fees and court costs. I have reason to believe that at least one local housing authority is monitoring advertisements that violate this new law. Landlords should be aware of this and adjust their practices accordingly. 

For assistance in reviewing your policies to avoid running afoul of this new law call me at 425 303-0600 or use the contact form on this website to schedule an appointment.