Request for rent change

Requirements and responsibilities

You can change the terms of the lease and contract after the first 12-month lease ends, as long as you comply with federal, state, and local laws. This includes changes to both rent and utilities. You must send KCHA and your tenant a Rent and Fee Increase Notice at least 90 days before the proposed effective date of the increase.

If you claim an exemption from the rent increase limit specified by state and local law, you must include facts or attach documents to the notice form supporting any claimed exemptions.

It is your responsibility, not the tenant’s, to notify KCHA of the proposed rent increase.

To submit a rent increase request, please use our online rent request form. For questions regarding the rent increase process, contact us at rentrequest@kcha.org.

Notice periods

In addition to the requirements above, if the unit is in Auburn, Burien, Issaquah, Kenmore, Kirkland, Redmond, SeaTac, Shoreline, or unincorporated King County the following notice periods apply:

• Auburn: If the rent is increased by more than 5%, there must be notice of at least 120 days before the increase takes effect.
• Kenmore, Kirkland, Redmond, SeaTac, Woodinville: If the rent is increased by more than 3%, there must be notice of at least 120 days before the increase takes effect. If the rent is increased by more than 10%, there must be notice of at least 180 days before the increase takes effect.
• Issaquah: If the rent is increased by more than 3%, there must be notice of at least 120 days before the increase takes effect.
• Shoreline: If the rent is increased by more than 3%, there must be notice of at least 120 days before the increase takes effect. If the rent is increased by 10% or more, there must be notice of at least 180 days before the increase takes effect.
• Unincorporated King County: If the rent is increased by more than 3%, there must be notice of at least 120 days before the increase takes effect. If you do not know if the unit is in unincorporated King County, you can check on King County’s website.

Reasonable rent

The rent must stay comparable to similar units in the area. After the first year, the tenant’s share of the rent may rise above 40 percent of their monthly income. In that case, the tenant — not KCHA — must pay all rent that exceeds their 40 percent share. This can impact their ability to afford the unit. If you choose not to renew the lease, you must provide a 30-day notice to the tenant and KCHA.

In making the rent-reasonable decision, KCHA takes into account federally-prescribed variables: location, size, type, quality, age of unit and amenities, plus any housing services, maintenance, and utilities provided by the owner. Information from our physical inspection of the unit is also used, along with current market data from AffordableHousing.com, Apartment Insights and other resources. This data can include comparables provided by the landlord for unassisted unit rents within the same complex. If you can document that the current rental rate for a subsidized tenant’s unit is below market, KCHA may be able to approve an increase. The following conditions must be met:

• The tenant is on a month-to month tenancy or the initial 12-month lease will end before the proposed effective date of the change.
• The proposed rent amount is not more than you charge for non-subsidized tenants and is rent-reasonable. Federal rules require that owners with more than 4 units provide the rents for 3 units recently rented or renewed.
• The proposed rent amount complies with state and local laws governing rent increases.

If these conditions are met, send your tenant a Rent and Fee Increase Notice, including the tenant’s name, address and unit number, proposed effective date, and proposed rent amount. Be sure your contact information is also on the notice. Include the tenant’s voucher number if possible.

FAQs about rent changes