SPOKANE, Wash. — Renters impacted by the Spokane fires now have legal protection against eviction, if they can prove that the disaster caused them financial hardship.
The Spokane City Council approved the Emergency Tenant Protection Ordinance in a 5-2 vote Wednesday night.
The ordinance establishes specific criteria renters must meet to qualify for protection. They must prove they lost more than 10% of their monthly income because of the fires, or that the fires resulted in a layoff or reduction in pay. Qualifying renters will receive a 12- month grace period to repay missed payments.
One mother of two renting in northwest Spokane is among those hoping the new protections will help her family stay housed.
She says in July, she was served a 30-day notice to vacate, because she owed money on rent. She had until mid-August to pay what she owed, but when she evacuated, she used the money for immediate needs.
“We couldn’t come up with the funds due to us having to evacuate. We had taken that money…we had to buy food. We were camping in some family’s yard at one point,” she explained.
She says when she returned, an eviction notice was waiting.
“It’s kind of scary, honestly. We have to go in front of a judge,” she said, requesting anonymity out of concern her landlord might retaliate.
The new ordinance requires renters to navigate multiple qualifications before receiving protection. Beyond proving that a tenant lost more than 10% of their monthly income, they must also prove that the fires resulted in a layoff or reduction in pay.
The Rental Housing Association of Washington, which represents approximately 1,000 landlords in Spokane, acknowledged the devastation caused by the fires but raised concerns about the impact on property owners.
“Emergencies don’t stop costs,” said Kevin Schilling, the government and advocacy director at RHAWA.
“To allow folks to not have to pay rent, but then not do anything on the ownership side where people still have to pay taxes, people still have to pay for maintenance, utilities, insurance, but there’s no assistance for covering those costs…” Schilling said.
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