§ 22.210.020. Findings and purpose.

A.

Findings.

1.

The City of Seattle is experiencing a rapid rate of development that has reduced and continues to reduce the supply of rental housing available to low-and moderate-income tenants and has reduced the supply of rental housing affordable to such tenants.

2.

The development and real estate market in Seattle has not been able to replace low-income units lost due to demolition, change of use, substantial rehabilitation and removal of use restrictions from assisted housing, making it more difficult and more costly for low-income persons who are displaced by demolition, change of use, substantial rehabilitation or removal of use restrictions from assisted housing to locate affordable substitute rental housing.

3.

Rents in Seattle have been increasing rapidly and vacancies in rental housing are at low levels, making it increasingly difficult for tenants, especially those with low incomes, to locate affordable rental housing.

4.

Pursuant to the public hearing held on June 7, 1990, the City Council finds that costs incurred by tenants to relocate within Seattle include actual physical moving costs, advance payments, utility fees, security and damage deposits and anticipated additional rent and utility costs, which, on average, equal or exceed Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) per tenant household.

5.

The State of Washington has adopted legislation authorizing local jurisdictions to require the payment of relocation assistance to low-income tenants who are displaced from dwelling units by housing demolition, change of use, substantial rehabilitation or removal of use restrictions from assisted housing.

6.

Conditions in the current rental market have created a relocation crisis, because tenants, especially low-income tenants, do not have sufficient time to save money for relocation costs or to find comparable housing when they are evicted as a result of demolition, change of use, substantial rehabilitation or removal of use restrictions from their dwelling units.

B.

Purpose. Based upon the above findings, the purpose of this chapter is to provide relocation assistance to low-income tenants displaced by demolition, substantial rehabilitation, or change of use of residential rental property, or the removal of use restrictions from assisted housing developments.

(Ord. 115141 § 1(part), 1990.)