Rising rents. Inadequate or poor living conditions. Maintenance problems unaddressed. Lease rates exceeding 30 percent or even 50 percent of monthly income. Affordable housing on the suburban fringe instead of in the urban core. For many in our city, the housing “market” simply isn’t working. 

According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, of the more than 100,000 housing units in the city of Spokane, about 44 percent are rented to someone other than the owner. The average rent in our city has increased 74 percent in the past decade, and now tops $1,300 per month, according to Zillow. While this is increase is being driven in part by an influx of new residents, often fleeing Seattle and other expensive metros, vulnerable Spokanites often pay the most extreme price.

Under current state law and local ordinances, rent increases can come with little notice. A tenant can be evicted without cause. Move-in costs (which tend to include the first month of rent, a security deposit, and often the last month’s rent) can exceed a unit’s monthly lease rate many times over. 

Sometime in the next few weeks or months (timing is unclear as of this writing), the Spokane City Council will consider a broad set of tenant protections designed to alleviate the most burdensome challenges faced by local renters. Most crucially, the ordinance is expected to require most landlords to cite a “just cause” (such as failure to pay rent, to remodel, demolish, or replace the unit, or to allow a family member to occupy the unit) when evicting a tenant. Fair notice of thirty days would be required for such an eviction. The ordinance is also expected to limit security and pet deposits and require compensation if a rent-increase causes a tenant to pay more than 30 percent of their income in rent.

For the 50 percent of Spokanites who rent their living accommodations, these measures offer a massive improvement to the status quo. And because more than 70 percent of Spokanites of color are renters (as opposed to 30 percent of white residents), they would dramatically improve housing equity. City Council should pass them at the earliest opportunity. 

But we can’t stop there. Far too many residents remain one rent increase away from losing their home, and far too many are prevented from entering the market in the first place.

In Oregon and California, ambitious state legislatures have limited rent increases through legislation. Seattle is experimenting with limiting wintertime evictions, and has banned landlords from conducting most criminal background checks. Washington, D.C. requires security deposits to be held in interest-bearing accounts, and California limits them to no more than two months’ rent. Spokane––and Washington State more broadly––should absolutely learn from these leaders.

Tenant protections are just one part of ensuring housing affordability. But as we encourage additional housing development (both through zoning reform and through direct subsidy), they can help ensure that more of our city can have stable, affordable housing in the here and now.