Seattle City Council passes law requiring landlord registration and rental unit inspection – Puget Sound Business Journal

The Seattle City Council voted unanimously Monday to approve legislation requiring owners of rental housing units to register with the city and undergo inspection to certify that their property meets city health and safety codes.

The new law requires all registered properties to be inspected within the first 10 years of the program. Registrations would be valid for five years. Inspections could be conducted by city inspectors or qualified private inspectors.

In June 2010, the Seattle City Council adopted an ordinance creating a rental housing registration and inspection program, along with a resolution requesting that the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) convene a stakeholder group and report back with recommendations for implementing the program, which had a delayed effective date. The new law is based on those recommendations.

Separate legislation will set fees to cover the costs of the registration and inspection program.

“Tenants deserve safe and livable housing and landlords need clear and reasonable inspection regulations. This legislation makes both of those things happen and has a realistic roll out plan,” Council President Sally Clark said in a statement.

via Seattle City Council passes law requiring landlord registration and rental unit inspection – Puget Sound Business Journal.