Through the Static

By Hannah Saunders

In a five day span, Seattle City officials have successfully passed a rental junk fee ban, and have brought forth six new pieces of legislation, known as the Vehicle Resident Assistance Program (VRAP). Despite this momentum, the junk fee ban will not become effective for about another year, and the VRAP has yet to be voted on by the Public Safety Committee. The U.S. economy is at one of its worst points in history, with wages far too low combined with skyrocketing prices, mass layoffs and thousands of applicants per job listing, and more.

Rental junk fees can easily add up to hundreds of dollars per month, stretching residents all the more thin. Homelessness in King County continues to increase, including by 26% from 2022-2024, according to the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA).

“Between 2024 and 2026, that rate of increase slowed to 9%, suggesting some stabilization in the growth trajectory even as overall needs continue to rise,” KCRHA stated.

This year in King County, at least 18,365 people have experienced homelessness; 36% were reportedly sheltered while 64% were reportedly unsheltered, based on KCRHA data.

“I’m happy to celebrate the elimination of junk fees, creating greater transparency and fairness in the market,” Mayor Katie Wilson said. “This is a major step forward in making Seattle an affordable city for working families and their pets.”

Landlords may still charge application screening fees, security deposits, move-in fees, late rent fees, utility fees, and lockout fees, among others.

City Attorney Erika Evans said that this legislation will make Seattle a more affordable city, and that “good landlords who play by the rules will benefit, too.” If landlords choose to violate the rental junk fee ban, her office can take them to court to recover three times the illegal fee amount.

“Specific optional fees are prohibited as unfair and excessive, including fees for access to common areas, fees for accepting certain methods of rent payments, fees for mail and package collection, fees for changes of tenancy, and pet fees beyond damage deposits,” according to the legislation, which will become effective on July 1, 2027.

VRAP

On August 7, Councilmember Dan Strauss highlighted the VRAP, which seeks to address shelter and housing options for people who are living in their automobiles.

“One out of every four people experiencing unsheltered homelessness in our region is living in their vehicle. Right now, the City of Seattle does not have a comprehensive strategy to help them build pathways to shelter and housing,” Councilmember Strauss said. “We also know that our city’s current approach to RV’s is not working. This legislation is about ensuring people who live in vehicles are not forgotten— but that they’re cared for and have a clear road to housing.”

The six pieces of legislation within the VRAP package are:

• Reallocating $5 million in existing funding within the City’s budget to increase safe lots and shelter storage, conduct direct outreach, and offer housing pathways for people living in their vehicles.
• Allowing the City to store vehicles when people access existing shelter and housing, which helps prevent them from losing their possession.
• Expanding the power of the director of Finance and Administrative Services to sign leases, offer resources, and open safe lots and storage.
• Creating more concise rules and pathways to shelter and housing for people living in motorhomes and travel trailers on Seattle streets.
• Clarifying the junk vehicle law, which has not been updated in 25 years.
• Outlining how these pieces of legislation will work in tandem to support people living in automobiles.

The Seattle City Council Public Safety Committee plans to vote on this during a mid-September meeting. While the passing of the rental junk fee ban is seen as a mass success, and the VRAP as being a step in the right direction to support people who are living in vehicles, some leftist activists have been calling on Mayor Wilson to pull a Mamdani and issue a renter eviction moratorium, especially considering the ICE surge the City is currently under.

If you value local news that prioritizes people over profit, please consider becoming a monthly donor. A recurring donation of $5, $10, or $25 a month provides us the predictable stability we need to produce TtS news. Other donation options include Ko-Fi and Venmo @ Saundershannah. Thank you for your support!