A Majority of Democrats in the Legislature are advancing the policy as many renters in the state are struggling to afford the cost of housing. The National Low Income Housing Coalition estimates that if you work a minimum wage job in Washington, you would have to work 77 hours a week for market rent on a one-bedroom apartment to be considered affordable. (Market rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Washington is $1,577, per the coalition.)
The Washington House passed a measure last week to limit rent increases by a maximum of 7% annually statewide. House Bill 2114, however, is far from becoming the law of the land. There are about 1 million renter households in Washington, or about 36% of the state’s households, according to the coalition.
