EXPLAINED: Governor Inslee's Bridge Proclamation (COVID-19 Tenant Protections)

****UPDATE 8/3/2021: The CDC will extend the eviction moratorium through October 3, 2021.

While the federal eviction moratorium expires today (July 31, 2021), Washington residential tenants who are currently not up to date on all rental obligations (namely paying rent) may have additional time to prevent eviction due to a "bridge" proclamation Governor Jay Inslee signed back on June 29, 2021. More details after the jump break.

Summarized: HB 1236 (Additional Residential Tenant Protections)

Effective May 10, 2021, RCW 59.12 and RCW 59.18 were amended to provide additional residential tenant protections. As you will see, they are very significant.

This will be part one of two posts, as there was another bill Governor Inslee signed on May 10 that also covers landlord-tenant issues.

More on this legislation after the jump break.

Summarized: SB 5160 (Landlord-Tenant Relations)

Effective April 22, 2021, the Washington State Legislature will add or amend sections to RCW 59.18 to provide additional tenant protections during COVID-19.

The biggest sections establish a pilot dispute resolution program (temporary for now), mandate attorneys to represent indigent tenants, and require landlords to submit reasonable repayment plans before filing an eviction matter in court.

More on this legislation after the jump break.

I also did not previously note at least two extensions on the eviction moratorium from Governor Inslee. The current moratorium, as of this post, runs through June 30, 2021.

Walker v. Khanna / Vijay (2021)

On March 1, 2021, the Washington Court of Appeals, Division I, released its unpublished opinion in Walker v. Khanna / Vijay. More details after the jump break.

SB 6378 (Multiple Residential Tenant Protections)

(NOTE: This is the last in a three-part series of blog posts of Washington Landlord-Tenant laws that take effect June 11, 2020.)

The Washington State Legislature added or amend sections affecting Washington landlord-tenant laws to give protections in addition to the two posts I previously covered.

Some of the sections noted below (Sections 5 through 8) took immediate effect upon Governor Inslee's signature, which was April 2, 2020. Sections 1 through 4 will take effect on June 11, 2020. I explain further below.

More on WA Evictions and COVID-19

Today, I'm adding to my previous blog post regarding the COVID-19 situation and how it can affect landlords and tenants in the State of Washington.

30-Day Moratorium on WA Residential Evictions

Yesterday, Governor Jay Inslee announced a 30-day statewide moratorium on residential evictions. I explain further below in this post.

SB 5600 (14-Day Rent Notices, Staying Writs, Etc.)

View SB 5600, as passed into law, here.

Effective July 28, 2019, sweeping changes to Washington's Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (RLTA) will take effect, including extending the time frame to pay rent. But, as described below, SB 5600 does more than that.