Housing

Washington needs practical housing policies that encourage private participation without creating more unnecessary government administration.

Landlords with properties of ten or more units should receive incentives to set aside at least one rental unit for renters who pay 30 percent of their gross income toward rent. These incentives could include tax reductions, permit breaks, or other practical benefits.

If the government creates a moratorium that prevents property owners from collecting rent, the law should also create a matching moratorium on mortgage payments for those same owners during that period.

Corporations, LLCs, partnerships, and similar entities should be limited in how many single-family homes, duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes they can own. I propose a limit of ten such properties.

The state should lower unnecessary fees and regulations and work more closely with cities and counties to streamline housing rules.

Washington should also encourage mixed-income housing. Some renters may pay market rates, but others pay reduced rates based on income. I support a working-income model that caps rent at 28 percent of income when appropriate. This is similar to an airplane seating model, where different people pay different rates within the same system.