Regarding: A proposed Seattle ordinance relating to the termination of residential rental tenancies; requiring a landlord have just cause to evict a tenant at the end of a fixed term rental agreement; and amending Sections 7.24.030 and 22.206.160 of the Seattle Municipal Code.

Seattle is experiencing an unprecedented housing crisis, with increasing rents and increasing numbers of homeless residents. Our city desperately need more housing! Yet our City Council continues to pass laws that exacerbate rather than solve the problem.
 
The latest piece of legislation potentially affecting Seattle’s housing market is a draft provision to eliminate fixed term leases.
 
This change, being touted by supporters as "closing a loophole”, would serve no useful purpose to the vast majority of renters.
 
Washington State has just passed a piece of legislation requiring housing providers to give 60 days notice if they wish a resident to move out at the end of their lease, so all Washington State residents are already guaranteed ample notice if their lease will not be renewing.
 
Many rental residents appreciate having a guarantee that their rent will not increase for the term of their lease, a major benefit of fixed-term leases to renters. If this draft legislation is adopted, all fixed term leases in Seattle would automatically convert to month-to-month tenancies. There would then be little incentive for housing providers to offer fixed-term leases at all.
 
The main effect of this legislation would be to enable the tiny minority of renters (less than 1%) who create hazardous living situations for others. These bad actors would take advantage of mandatory lease renewals to prolong or avoid just-cause evictions for lease violations or safety issues.
 
Fixed-term leases are an important protection for housing providers and rental residents alike. Therefore, we urge you: Please vote NO on this ordinance!