Sawant, Licata's new tenant protection ordinance

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Ashli Blow

Ashli Blow Jan 12, 2018

Jan 12, 2018

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                <h1>Sawant, Licata's new tenant protection ordinance</h1>
                <h2><p>Flanked by tenants of pilloried landlord Carl Haglund's Columbia City building, Councilmembers Kshama Sawant and Nick Licata introduced a new ordinance to strengthen tenant protection laws Wednesday. Inspired in part by the poor living conditions on display last month, the new ordinance would forbid landlords from raising rents</p></h2>
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               <p>By <a href="/author/ashli-blow/">Ashli Blow</a></p> 
              <p><time datetime="2025-02-04T05:00:00-08:00">Jan 12, 2018</time></p>
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            <p>Flanked by tenants of pilloried landlord Carl Haglund's Columbia City building, Councilmembers Kshama Sawant and Nick Licata introduced a new ordinance to strengthen tenant protection laws Wednesday. Inspired in part by the poor living conditions <a href="http://www.seattletimes.com/business/real-estate/2-city-council-members-decry-soaring-rent-at-rundown-south-seattle-apartments/?ref=dev.cascadepbs.org">on display last month</a>, the new ordinance would forbid landlords from raising rents if their apartments are not up to code. Sawant referred to it as the "Haglund Law."</p><p>Voices on the developer side of the table, such as the vocal Roger Valdez, contend that rent hikes are what pay for the necessary upgrades. Haglund too says he inherited the problems in his buildings and needed to raise rents to fix them.</p><p>Sawant dismissed the argument, saying developers can already afford to make the upgrades.</p><p>Sharon Lee of the Low Income Housing Institute said there are similar rules in Philadelphia, but was unsure of other examples around the country.</p>
          </article>

Flanked by tenants of pilloried landlord Carl Haglund's Columbia City building, Councilmembers Kshama Sawant and Nick Licata introduced a new ordinance to strengthen tenant protection laws Wednesday. Inspired in part by the poor living conditions on display last month, the new ordinance would forbid landlords from raising rents if their apartments are not up to code. Sawant referred to it as the "Haglund Law."

Voices on the developer side of the table, such as the vocal Roger Valdez, contend that rent hikes are what pay for the necessary upgrades. Haglund too says he inherited the problems in his buildings and needed to raise rents to fix them.

Sawant dismissed the argument, saying developers can already afford to make the upgrades.

Sharon Lee of the Low Income Housing Institute said there are similar rules in Philadelphia, but was unsure of other examples around the country.

By Ashli Blow

Ashli Blow is a Seattle-based freelance writer who talks with people — in places from urban watersheds to remote wildernesses — about the environment around them. She’s been working in journal