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Be:Seattle @beseattleorg.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Can you advocate in support of renters at tomorrow's budget hearing? Oct. 6, 1pm remote or 5pm in person. The Stay Housed, Stay Healthy Coalition has created a guide to giving public comment with suggested talking points to help you get started: tinyurl.com/tenant-servi...

A group of six older people holding handmade signs pose outside of council chambers. The signs say, "Tenant services = awareness of my rights as a senior tenant!!" "Senior renters need tenant services," "Save tenant services", and "We are senior renters! We need tenant services!"

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Tenant services funding and ensuring that the strengthened enforcement renters won with the junk fees bill is actually fully funded. Check out the coalition's Public Comment Guide: docs.google.com/document/u/0...

docs.google.com

Budget Public Comment Guide - Tenant Services

Renters’ Guide to Public Comment on the Budget The following is a public comment guide specific to advocating for expanding funding for tenant services and enforcement of renter protections. The firs...

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Shirley Leung, PhD @shirleyswirley.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Better renter protections means fewer people fall into homelessness. Prevention is the best medicine so let’s take care of our renters

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Budget Public Comment Guide - Tenant Services

Thank you for the shoutout! We put together a guide to giving public comment to urge Council to add at least $500,000 to tenant services funding and adopt the $11 increase to rental registration fees paid by landlords every 2 years to fund renter protection enforcement. tinyurl.com/tenant-servi...

tinyurl.com

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When the junk fees bill was introduced to council, the Mayor's Office explained that the proposed strengthened enforcement would be funded by increasing the fee that landlords pay to register their units. The coalition is urging City Council to adopt the $11 biennial increase without any exceptions

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The Mayor's proposed budget keeps funding for tenant services below 2023 levels, even though costs continue to rise and we are on track to reach a record high number of evictions this year. The coalition is urging the council to add $500,000 to the budget to prevent further collapse of services.

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mlklabor.bsky.social @mlklabor.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

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🚨 SEATTLE HAS BANNED SURVEILLANCE PRICING ON GROCERIES! Grocery workers led the way to win this groundbreaking protection against AI price hikes.

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Seattle Renters' Commission @searenterscomm.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Join us this Saturday from 2-4pm for a workshop on the City budget! Learn about how the budget is created, the process of amending & approving it, how funds are allocated, and practical tips to advocate for how you want Seattle to spend your money. RSVP at tinyurl.com/src-budget-26

Analyzing Seattle's City Budget with the Seattle Renters' Commission. Understand the budget & process. Learn more practical tips with the City Budget and Seattle Solidarity Budget.

Cedar Crossing Community Room: 6620 Roosevelt Way NE

Saturday, September 26, 2-4pm
Doors open at 1:30pm

Snacks provided

RSVP: https://tinyurl.com/src-budget-26

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Be:Seattle @beseattleorg.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

The bill has strong enforcement (penalties). The City will be doing landlord outreach before the legislation goes into effect to ensure that landlords understand the bill and the consequences of charging illegal fees. If they choose to break the law, get in touch with us and we'll help report them.

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Be:Seattle @beseattleorg.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

That's not accurate. It applies to all residential rental housing in the City of Seattle. It won't take effect until July of next year though.

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Be:Seattle @beseattleorg.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

The landlords do what they do whenever the damage exceeds the deposit. Invoice the tenant and send them to collections if they don't pay. They do this even if they've charged thousands of dollars for pet rent.

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Amy Sundberg @amysundberg.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

It was so difficult to be a renter with a dog, and one of those difficulties was definitely pet rent. So happy people won't have to suffer through that in Seattle anymore!

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Be:Seattle @beseattleorg.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Only Seattle for now, but we're hoping to get involved in efforts to make it statewide soon!

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Wes Mills 🥌 @oowm.org · 12/08/2026

i do not regret to inform you that when we fight...we win. and we are very good at fighting.

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Lynn Drake 🚴🏻 @lynnbikesinalki.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Plus all the 8000 (?) people who filled out the renters survey @yourcityseattle.bsky.social and volunteers talking to people and getting them to fill it out. 🎉

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Be:Seattle @beseattleorg.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

The bill to ban rental junk fees passed! Thank you to the more than THREE THOUSAND renters who emailed and testified, all of our partners in the #StayHousedStayHealthy Coalition, and to @mayor.seattle.gov and Councilmember Foster for their leadership on this bill!

A group of people holding signs to ban junk fees stands outside of council chambers in front of a banner that says "Stay Housed, Sfay Healthy." In the center of the group is Mayor Wilson holding her daughter.

A group of people holding signs stands outside of council chambers in front of a banner that says "Stay Housed, Stay Healthy." In the center are Councilmember Foster and Sage Wilson.

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Alex @alexh666.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Abolition is part of good urbanism btw municipalities should spend money on making infrastructure safer and more pleasant rather than on racist cops who literally take extract wealth from our communities :)

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Wes Mills 🥌 @oowm.org · 12/08/2026

Thank you very much @beseattleorg.bsky.social and @seattletru.bsky.social and all of the Stay Housed, Stay Healthy Coalition. This is an unquestionable win for renters and you deserve all of the praise for all of the work you put in with @mayor.seattle.gov to get this bill shepherded all the way.

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Kelly Jiang @kellyjiang.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

“Housing provider” as a euphemism for “landlord” is also a good one. IMO developers are closer to “housing providers” because they actually provide (build) housing…

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Be:Seattle @beseattleorg.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

THE BILL TO BAN RENTAL JUNK FEES PASSED! 🎉🎉🎉

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Hannah Krieg @hannahkrieg.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

URGENT: The City Council may add pet rent to the list of allowable fees under Mayor Wilson's junk fee ordinance. Tell them at public comment ahead of 2pm vote to pass the bill without amendment C and ban that shit outright. www.theburnerseattle.com/post/tell-se...

theburnerseattle.com

Tell Seattle City Council To BAN Pet Rent, Not Just Cap It

At their 2pm Tuesday meeting, the Seattle City Council will vote on Mayor Katie Wilson’s junk fee ban, an ordinance that lays out what landlords can charge for, mandates upfront transparency for those...

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Seattle Renters' Commission @searenterscomm.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Will we see you today at 2pm for the City Council vote on the junk fees ban? The commission supports the bill, including the amendments that help renters with compensation (A&E) and we oppose the amendments that would allow landlords to charge pet rent and opt renters into their insurance (C&D)

Two commissioners pose for a selfie. Behind, there are people holding signs supporting banning junk fees

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Share the Cities Collective @sharethecities.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Banning junk fees is just good old fashioned consumer protections and if the city councilmembers can’t see that then we know how they feel about their constituents who happen to be renters. Contact council@seattle.gov and demand renter transparency & less confusing rental processes

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Be:Seattle @beseattleorg.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

We need all hands on deck TODAY at 2pm for public comment to keep the bill to ban junk fees strong! Stay Housed, Stay Healthy Coalition made a public comment guide with talking points to make testifying as easy as possible, and a form email that you can send RIGHT NOW. linktr.ee/StayHousedSt...

An alliance of organizations fighting for stronger renter protections in Seattle, King County & WA. Current campaign: Banning rental junk fees in Seattle!

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Mayor Katie B. Wilson @mayor.seattle.gov · 10/08/2026

Rental junk fees got you struggling to make rent each month? My bill with Councilmember Dionne Foster will level the playing field for renters, keep people in the homes and neighborhoods they love, and make apartment hunting easier. I'm excited for City Council to discuss it tomorrow!

seattletimes.com

Tell Seattle council it's time to ban hidden fees in rental housing | Op-Ed

It’s only fair that the listed rental cost of an apartment is what you’ll actually pay — not that amount plus an array of arbitrary and confusing fees.

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Guy Oron @guyoron.net · 11/08/2026

Something interesting I learned reporting on this story is just how many advantages landlords have. It’s hard to see the rationale for adding on pet rent

Pet rent is arguably a case of quintuple dipping by landlords. They can already charge both a general security deposit and pet deposit on top of monthly rent to pay for potential damages. They also often write off thousands of dollars in taxable income under the expectation of depreciation due to tenant wear-and-tear (despite the fact that property prices have actually massively increased).

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Be:Seattle @beseattleorg.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Pet rent is such a scam. Damage deposits also cover common areas. And pets really don't cause very much damage according to the stats cited by Seattle Humane Society

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Be:Seattle @beseattleorg.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Take action to help ban rental junk fees: 1. Send an email to Seattle City Council urging them to support the bill and reject weakening amendments C&D 2. Testify in public comment tomorrow, Tue. 8/11 at 2pm (at Seattle City Hall or remotely) Form email & talking points: linktr.ee/stayhousedst...

An alliance of organizations fighting for stronger renter protections in Seattle, King County & WA. Current campaign: Banning rental junk fees in Seattle!

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Be:Seattle @beseattleorg.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

"junk fees can increase your rent by 10%-30%. ... Nearly half of all renters in our city are “cost-burdened,” meaning they pay more than a third of their income on rent. Even worse, one in four renters pay more than half their monthly income to their landlord." www.seattletimes.com/opinion/tell...

seattletimes.com

Tell Seattle council it's time to ban hidden fees in rental housing | Op-Ed

It’s only fair that the listed rental cost of an apartment is what you’ll actually pay — not that amount plus an array of arbitrary and confusing fees.

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Amy Probably @socklessinseattle.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

SEATTLE PEOPLE PLEASE EMAIL YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND TELL THEM TO BAN JUNK FEES.

A collage of a person kicking the air with the text KICK JUNK FEES OUT! against an organize background

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Worker. Renter. @worker-renter.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Comment before THIS Tuesday 2pm!

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Nothing in the bill or the amendment prohibits landlords from requiring that renters have renters insurance, but renters can sometimes get better coverage for less money than their landlords charge.

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Amendment D (Kettle) would allow landlords to make their renters insurance an opt-out fee, rather than an opt-in fee. It is noteworthy sometimes the insurance provided by the landlord only covers the renter's liability, not their belongings.

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Check out this letter from ASPCA, Seattle Humane, Pasado's Safe Haven, Northwest Animal Rights Network, PAWS, and Humane Society for Southwest Washington in support of the bill as written, and take the action posted on Seattle Humane's page! www.seattlehumane.org/get-involved...

July 30, 2026
Seattle City Council
Seattle City Hall
600 4th Ave. 2nd Floor,
Seattle, WA 98104
RE: CB 121254
Dear Council Members:
On behalf of the undersigned organizations, we strongly support CB 121254, an ordinance
relating to rental agreement regulation which would prohibit any pet fees beyond a reasonable,
refundable pet damage deposit. These added costs can force families to choose between stable
housing and keeping a beloved pet, placing further strain on already stretched animal sheltering
and rescue organizations.
Pets are family. Nearly two thirds of Washington residents have a pet, and 97% of pet owners
consider their pets part of their family. Yet for many renters, “pet-friendly” housing is pet-friendly
in name only: tenants may face monthly pet rent, nonrefundable fees, high deposits, vague
restrictions, breed bans, weight limits or other barriers that make safe, stable housing
inaccessible.
At a time of unprecedented housing challenges, the cost and availability of housing that allows
pets is an increasing burden for loving and responsible pet owners. As a result, tens of
thousands of dogs and cats are relinquished to Washington’s animal shelters every year,
breaking apart families and adding stress to already difficult situations.
Our organizations’ collective experience reflects the urgency of this issue. Housing is
consistently among the leading reasons people surrender pets to animal sheltering and rescue
organizations. For example, at Seattle Humane, housing-related issues have accounted for
roughly 15% of total surrenders in recent years. These surrenders are often preventable.
Families seek help not because they do not love their pets, but because added rental costs,
unaffordable deposits, pet rent or restrictive lease terms leave them with no workable path forward

Opponents of this ordinance argue that eliminating pet rent and nonrefundable pet fees will
force landlords to raise rents for everyone. Data from Denver, CO, where pet-related rental fees
were capped effective January 1, 2024, showed a significant reduction in rents following the
law’s enactment. There is little evidence that responsible pet owners create costs that justify
ongoing monthly charges or increases in rent. Research cited by organizations supporting this
ordinance found that only 9% of pets cause any damage, average damage costs are
approximately $210, and only 2% of pets cause damage requiring a security deposit deduction.
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We support housing policies that recognize both the legitimate interests of property owners and
the reality that responsible pet ownership is compatible with safe, well-managed rental housing.
Reasonable, refundable deposits tied to actual damage provide an appropriate tool for
addressing property concerns.
Pet-inclusive housing also benefits landlords and the broader community.2 One study found that
83% of owners and operators say pet-friendly vacancies can be filled faster, and that residents
in pet-friendly housing stay 21% longer than residents in housing that does not allow pets.3 This
can reduce marketing costs, turnover costs and vacancy downtime, creating meaningful
financial benefits for property owners.
By promoting pet-friendly housing, the City of Seattle can reduce the financial strain on renters
with pets, keep pets with loving families, reduce pressure on local animal sheltering and rescue
organizations, and strengthen communities and families. We ask for the Council’s support in
passing this ordinance, which would prohibit pet fees beyond a reasonable, refundable pet
damage deposit, so fewer households are forced to make the heartbreaking decision to give up
a pet.

The signees and sources are cited below the letter.

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The bill as it is written currently would ban pet rent outright (pet deposits are still allowable), but Amendment C (Kettle) would allow landlords to charge monthly pet rent up to $25+interest for each cat or dog. What justifies charging $300+interest every single year for every pet in the bldg?

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We have made it really easy for you to testify, even if you've never given public comment before! There is a guide with suggested talking points on the Stay Housed, Stay Healthy Coalition LinkTree. We also have a letter that you can send to City Council 30 seconds. linktr.ee/StayHousedSt...

An alliance of organizations fighting for stronger renter protections in Seattle, King County & WA. Current campaign: Banning rental junk fees in Seattle!

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poweredbylemonx | 🍋⚡️ @poweredbylemonx.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Ah yes, all of the renters who couldn't afford to take time off in the middle of the workday to testify love paying fees on top of rent 🙄 The final council vote on the junk fees ban is this Tue, 8/11 at 2pm. There are a couple of bad amendments that renters need to push back on in public comment.

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Knowing what Landlords are doing, it's the perfect chance for Seattle renters and anyone else opposed to junk fees to take action ahead of the city council's meeting on this legislation: linktr.ee/StayHousedSt... TLDR: your landlord emails the city council, so should you!