As rent prices continue to climb, tenants across the state are feeling the crunch.
House Bill 2114 could put a limit of 7% on yearly rent hikes. Currently, the state of Washington does not have a limit on rent increases.
“I’m 66 years old and I have never in my life seen rent decrease and this bill can make a difference,” said Kenmore renter Boyd West during a public hearing in January .
He’s one of thousands of people throughout the state who’ve seen their rent dramatically increase in just a few years.
West testified in front of a House Committee to explain how tough his rental increases have been.
“This was our end game right here,” West told KIRO 7. “We thought we’d just stay here until we died and I don’t understand how that’ll be possible if the rent keeps going up like this.”
He and his wife’s dream of living at their Kenmore home is now being outweighed by the costs to keep it up.
West owns his mobile home but rents the ground beneath it. He said it’s gone up $405 a month since 2020. It comes out to a nearly 36% increase in just three years. That doesn’t include an extra $200 in fees for the property.