Seattle City Council passes bill aiming to prevent evictions after moratorium is lifted
Seattle City Council this week passed a bill offering more protections to prevent tenants unable to pay their rent from being evicted after the city and statewide eviction moratoriums are lifted.
The bill -- passed in a 9-0 vote by the council -- gives tenants a defense to use in eviction proceedings relating to not being able to pay rent for six months after Seattle's moratorium on residential evictions is lifted. The moratorium is currently in effect through June 4. The bill is aimed at helping to keep the thousands of people impacted by the spread of the novel coronavirus safely housed.
"This legislation before us today can help people stay housed and that is the bottom line," Council President M. Lorena González said during a council meeting.
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Under the bill, landlords can still take actions associated with evictions, but tenants can use this as a defense in court. Tenants will also still accrue debt and will be expected to pay the rent that is owed.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/seattle-city-council-passes-bill-aiming-to-prevent-evictions-after-moratorium-is-lifted/ar-BB13HFbc?ocid=hplocalnews
