Renters, pretty soon your lease could say if you're at risk of flooding
It’s only been a few months since historic flooding devastated parts of Western Washington, where affected homeowners are still recovering.
Many renters also suffered losses from the floods. And unlike homeowners, they may have had little idea they were at risk.
In Washington, home sellers are required to tell potential buyers if their properties are located on a flood plain. But landlords don’t have to do the same for renters.
A bill recently passed by state lawmakers could change that, by requiring that rental leases include disclosures if a unit is at risk of flooding.
The bill still needs to be signed by Governor Ferguson. If that happens, landlords will have to add disclosures to leases starting in 2027.
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Guests:
- Alexis Weisend is a business reporter for the Seattle Times. Her reporting on this gap in renter protection was the inspiration for the legislation.
Related links:
- 6237-S SBR FBR 26
- Washington historic floods uncover critical gap in renter protection | The Seattle Times
- WA approves bill requiring landlords to disclose flood risk to renters | The Seattle Times
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Libby Denkmann
Host, Soundside
Libby Denkmann joined KUOW in December 2021 as the host of the midday show Soundside. She’s a native Pacific Northwesterner who grew up in Redmond, graduated from the University of Washington, and covered local news as a producer and reporter with KIRO Radio.
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Maleeha Syed
Producer, Soundside
Maleeha is a producer on Soundside, a show that helps listeners get to know the PNW and each other. Before KUOW, she worked at Cascade PBS, first as a communities reporter and then as a podcast producer on shows like Northwest Reports and Your Last Meal. Before moving to Seattle, she worked as a reporter at the Burlington Free Press in Vermont, but is originally from San Antonio.
More stories from Maleeha Syed »
