Seattle investigating preferred employer rent discounts

SEATTLE — Seattle is investigating the practice of landlords waiving fees or cutting costs for employees of certain companies.

The Seattle Times reported that the Seattle Office for Civil Rights said the issue of “preferred employer” discounts for workers at companies such as Amazon, Microsoft and Boeing came up during the agency’s recent work to promote fair housing.

Spokesman Elliott Bronstein says it is too early in the investigation to speculate what the office could do if it finds the practice violates fair-housing guidelines.

A Seattle attorney who specializes in landlord-tenant law says property owners can deny or favor anyone based on factors outside protected classes such as race, religion, national origin and others. He says landlords have many incentives to encouraging well paid, stably employed tenants.