The Seattle City Council’s Housing, Arts, and Civil Rights Committee has passed a bill to shield property owners from predatory homebuying tactics.
CHS reported here on the “Do Not Solicit List” proposal inspired by efforts like the the Black Legacy Homeowners group.
Introduced by Councilmember Dionne Foster, the legislation establishes a city-managed “Do Not Solicit” list maintained by the Seattle Office of Civil Rights. Designed to protect generational wealth and vulnerable communities including seniors and low-income families, the policy targets incessant, off-market buying pressure via calls, texts, mail, or visits.
“For too long, we’ve seen seniors, low-income families, and those in historically marginalized communities displaced from our city, in part due to predatory homebuying practices that push homeowners to sell their homes for less than they are worth,” Foster said in a statement.
Enforcement has some teeth: Violators face civil penalties of $1,000 for a first offense and $2,000 for subsequent violations within a year, along with granting homeowners the right to pursue private legal action.
Supported by community groups like Black Legacy Homeowners and the Beacon Hill Council, the bill builds on 2025 protections and similar measures in New York and Philadelphia.
The full City Council will vote on final passage on July 28.
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