SEATTLE — Facing huge rent increases and what they call “economic evictions” Seattle renters filled City Council meeting begging for rent control in the city.
KIRO-TV reported that hundreds of residents filled the Council chambers Thursday for a meeting called “the Rent is Out of Control.”
Renters shared anecdotes of rents doubling, such as one woman Barbara Brownstein who’s rent jumped from $850 to $1695. Another man’s rent increased $500. Both said they would have to move because of the cost.
Property managers at the meeting said rent control hurts the market as renters don’t leave units and developers don’t have an incentive to build, which creates a shortage of housing.
State law prohibits rent control and would need to be amended or abolished for the Seattle government to control rates.
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