John Curley: Ferguson’s rent control will nuke Seattle faster than the bomb

Washington Governor Bob Ferguson has signed HB 1217, a new law capping annual rent increases in Washington at either 7% plus inflation or 10%, whichever is lower. Starting June 2025, landlords will be forced to give 90 days’ notice before raising rent.

The law bans rent hikes in the first year of a lease, limits increases for mobile homes to 5%, and exempts single-family homes. The bill passed with narrow margins and no Republican support.

John Curley irate with Ferguson rent control bill

John Curley, host of “The John Curley Show” on KIRO Newsradio, is furious with the bill.

“There’s only one way to destroy a city faster than an atomic bomb, and here is your governor slowly destroying your city,” Curley said. “When demand stays the same and supply goes up, the price comes down. It’s straightforward. Or if you really want to screw things up, you do this.”

Curley said the solution is simple: eliminate large impact and permitting fees. Remove those costs to make it less expensive to build homes. When construction becomes more affordable, more people will be able to afford to buy homes.

Listen to the full conversation below: 

Listen to John Curley weekday afternoons from 3 – 7 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.

Follow @http://twitter.com/curleyseattle