It’s just before the holidays…
Segment 1: Boating, SUPs, kayak safety as requested by the local Coast Guard based on recent release of financial status of costs of unnecessary searches. Recreational Boating Association of Washington (RBAW) working on behalf of Puget Sound boaters and related recreational users. Local yacht clubs doing outreach and planning events as goodwill towards the “Friends of Seward Park” who are trying to eliminate anchoring in Andrew’s Bay which is surrounded by the park.
Segment 2: Guest Ryan Weatherstone of Puckett & Redford law firm www.PuckettRedford.com on the topic of Eviction Moratoriums in WA State and City of Seattle. We cover what landlords can and cannot do, how the laws are currently being interpreted and updates on how the Governor is getting definitions settled to assist both landlords and tenants. Property damage and physical safety issues are of the highest priority at this time so we discuss what is the meaning of “significant and immediate threat” to people and property. What happens when people who aren’t on a lease start staying at a property, how that is defined and more. Unauthorized occupants as a topic is explored. What if a tenant has a job and can pay but just chooses not to?
Segment 3: Landlords are required to find out the health and financial position of a tenant as part of the repayment process for Covid and to offer “reasonable” repayment plans. There are some rental relief programs like ADRP. Will evictions or other nonpayment issues during Covid affect tenants and their credit scores and reporting? Landlords can report issues but 3rd party credit screening firms are not allowed to report so recommendations are made for landlords on how to handle this issue. Segment 4: The “NAFTA” landlord/tenant problem Reba has to share of a current client who has a rental not receiving rent. The owner is out of country, the tenant is out of country – what can he do? Many tenants who were from out of country left due to Covid and can’t come back due to border shut downs so we cover what options a landlord may have in this instance since about 10% of many high rise buildings in downtown Seattle have this issue. What happens if the owner wants to sell the unit? At what point can Declaration of Abandonment be considered? As always, we recommend landlords get good legal representation in these instances. Lastly, we ask Ryan (our guest) about his prognostications of what will happen in the region as Seattle continues to push the envelope of landlord/tenant issues such as “just cause”.