Measure No. 1 - Rental Housing Code Regulations

Measure No. 1 would require landlords to comply with health and safety laws before raising rent or evicting a tenant; set limits on certain rental fees; require landlords provide two notices to increase rent and offer relocation assistance when the increase is 5% or more; create a defense against certain student/school year evictions, evictions between November 1 and April 1, and evictions against servicemembers, seniors, families and others with protected status under the measure; and provide penalties and enforcement mechanisms. As an alternative, the Tacoma City Council proposes Measure No. 2, which would repeal and reenact portions of the City's rental housing code and require landlords to comply with health and safety laws; have a City license before increasing rent or evicting tenants; set limits on rent late fees and pet deposits; require 120 day notice to raise rent; add new regulations for shared housing; standardize screening criteria for tenant income required to qualify for housing, for reviewing tenant's criminal history and identification. Should either of these measures be enacted into law?