‘Rising rents, messed up utility billing systems, and junk fees’ — Wilson launches ‘Mayoral Renter’s Survey’

CHS discovered Wilson’s announcement in a Facebook Reel

Seattle has a Capitol Hill renter in the mayor’s office. She wants to know what fellow Seattle renters are experiencing.

Mayor Katie Wilson has launched a “Mayoral Renter’s Survey” to collect feedback from tenants as they tangle with “rising rents, messed up utility billing systems, and junk fees.”

“I know a survey might not sound like that big of a deal, but organizing and good governance start with listening,” Wilson says in the social media clip announcing the survey effort. “I know landlords are an important part of the conversation, too, and I am sure I will be hearing from them. But to win a city that truly works for renters, we need to hear more from you.”

CHS reported here in January as Wilson launched her new administration from an unusual vantage point — the Capitol Hill apartment she and her family call home. Former Mayor Bruce Harrell’s primary address is a 6,000-square-foot Seward Park mansion.

Wilson, a progressive organizer, socialist, and leader at the Transit Riders Union, campaigned on her leadership around minimum wage and renters rights campaigns across the region.

Her first steps as mayor for renters will be asking questions about monthly rent and additional charges for things like applications and inspection fees. “What would make you feel at home as a renter in Seattle?,” the 14th question on the survey inquires.

The results will be used to inform legislative and policy efforts for tenants and landlords from the mayor’s office.

“While state law currently prohibits cities from directly regulating rents or limiting rent increases, we do have the power to limit other fees landlords charge and to require landlord-paid relocation assistance when a renter moves following a significant rent increase,” Wilson says in the short video launching the survey effort. “Please fill out the short survey to help us understand the most impactful actions we can take to improve the quality of your life.”

One likely early target will be the “Ratio Utility Billing System.” The RUBS formula used by landlords to allocate property utility costs like water, sewer, electric, gas, and trash to tenants has been roundly criticized by renter advocacy groups including the Seattle Renters Commission. A tenant group on Capitol Hill recently organized a payment strike to protest the fees.

The survey could be the start of a new push for renters rights at City Hall as the previous administration and council tangled with the constituency. The last major renter protection passed by the council was last summer’s ban on “algorithmic rent fixing” and Kshama Sawant’s cap on late fee limits in 2023. The big recent win for renters came at the state level where 43rd District Rep. Nicole Macri helped win a 10% cap on annual rent increases.

The Wilson administration will also be busy championing Seattle’s newest effort to create affordable housing and apartment buildings as the Seattle Social Housing Developer moves closer to acquiring its first property.

Tuesday night, Wilson and SSHD head Tiffani McCoy are scheduled to speak at a State of Social Housing forum.

Wilson’s renters rights push comes as Seattle and Capitol Hill’s rental market continues to shift and as many smaller landlords say they can no longer afford to compete with regional and national developers. Capitol Hill’s iconic El Capitan building is the latest to sell — though its new owners have not yet been publicly revealed.

Recent data shows that Seattle is a tenant-majority city with an estimated 56% of housing in the city renter-occupied.

You can take the survey here through February 13th.

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