Management Resources
The Seattle Office of Housing offers resources and technical assistance on a variety of property and asset management topics.
Consent to Enter
Tenant Consent for Housing Unit Entry
In Seattle, it is illegal to enter a tenant's housing unit without written notice and consent, except in emergencies or abandonment as defined by state law. The Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) enforces this rule under SMC 22.206.180(F)(1).
Key Requirements
- Tenants must receive written notice at least 2 business days before entry.
- The notice must include the date, time, a contact name, and a phone number for tenants to raise objections or reschedule.
For Affordable Housing Properties
- Properties receiving public funding are subject to physical inspections.
- Property managers should notify tenants and obtain consent as soon as they are informed of an upcoming inspection.
- Typically, the Office of Housing provides at least 4 weeks' notice before inspections.
- During inspections, Office of Housing staff will rely on property management to confirm tenant consent.
Resources
- The Seattle Office of Housing and SDCI can provide compliant resident notification templates on request.
- Questions about Consent to Enter: Contact SDCI Renting in Seattle for landlords.
- Questions about inspections: Email OFH_Portfolio@seattle.gov.
The Housing Preservation Guide is a "road map" for assessing the needs of individual affordable housing properties and entire portfolios, as well as developing workable plans for preserving that housing. Hard copies of the Housing Preservation Guide come with a CD with sample documents that are not included within the PDF available above. Download the sample documents individually below:
The documents in this list do not meet WCAG 2.1 AA compliance standards and are not accessible to screen readers. People who use screen readers can contact OFH_Portfolio@seattle.gov to set up alternate access for these documents.
In Seattle, it is illegal to discriminate in the rental of housing based on race, color, ancestry, sex, disability, religion, age, retaliation, national origin, marital or political status, parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity, use of a service animal, Section 8 certificate usage, military or veteran status. The City of Seattle and US Department of Housing and Urban Development require displaying fair housing posters where they can be easily seen, including lobbies, community rooms, or leasing offices. More information about fair housing laws, including resources for property managers, is available on the Seattle Office for Civil Rights website.
Fair Housing Resources
Renting in Seattle has unique tenant protections like Fair Chance Housing and Source of Income Protections. Renting in Seattle for Housing Providers gives complete information of current and changing landlord tenant laws.
Homelessness Waiver Approval Form
Please complete the Homelessness Waiver Approval form to document reasonable accommodation and housing safety/stability transfers occurring within your agency's own housing portfolio of units restricted for homeless households by the City of Seattle Office of Housing (OH), King County Housing Finance Program (KC), and/or the Washington State Department of Commerce (COM). Refer to the King County Regional Homeless Authority’s Coordinated Entry page for units restricted for homeless households participating in CEA that are owned/operated by another agency. Housing providers are responsible to ensure compliance with record retention and WBARS reporting requirements. See instructions on the Homelessness Waiver Approval Form for details.
Owners seeking approval of a transfer of ownership must notify the Office of Housing. Please contact Portfolio Manager at OFH_Portfolio@seattle.gov to receive an application and learn about the transfer of ownership process. Forms referenced in the Transfer of Ownership Application are available in the Combined Funders' Project Budgets and Forms on the Multifamily Rental Housing Funding Announcement and Application page.
Once completed, Transfer of Ownership Applications can be mailed to the address below, or submitted in-person at 700 Fifth Avenue, Floor 57.
Seattle Office of Housing
Attn: Portfolio Manager
Asset Management Unit
PO Box 94725
Seattle, WA 98124-4725
Applicants seeking to assume ownership and request additional funding will be required to submit more detailed information and will generally be required to submit funding requests as part of the regular Office of Housing Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) schedule.
Applicants interested in applying through the NOFA must contact OFH_Lending@seattle.gov to schedule a pre-application meeting before the Office of Housing will accept an application.
Landlords are eligible for energy efficiency grants covering up to 90% of costs. These improvements reduce maintenance requirements, cover capital improvement costs, lower tenant turnover, and shrink utility expenses.
Typical improvements include:
- Boilers, furnaces, water heaters, heat pumps and air conditioners
- Insulation of all types (roof, attic, wall, floor, ducts and pipes)
- Sealing Drafts (a.k.a. air sealing)
- LED Lighting
- Windows and Doors
- Refrigerators
- Exhaust fans, make-up air units (MAUs), energy recovery ventilation
- Building Controls
- Additional weatherization measures as determined by energy conservation benefit
To learn more please visit our Multifamily Weatherization Page.
The City encourages the utilization of women- and minority-owned businesses (WMBEs) for the construction and other contracted services. Visit the State WMBE directory and the City of Seattle vendor directory to search for WMBE contractors. During construction, project sponsors must submit monthly WMBE reports providing data on the contractors and consultants working on the project:
The WMBE Report Forms do not meet WCAG 2.1 AA compliance standards and is not accessible to screen readers. People who use screen readers can contact OFH_Lending@seattle.gov to set up alternate access for this form.