<< Previous   of   Next >> M.L. Dehm / SCBJ  (click to enlarge) Snohomish County Apartment Operators Association chairman Bryan Mize (left) and board member and landlord-tenant law attorney Rob Trickler stand outside the SCAOA office on Evergreen Way. SCAOA offers information, classes, forms and other services for landlords and property managers.

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CONTACT SCBJ Kurt Batdorf, Editor kbatdorf@scbj.com

Property managers can rely on local resources

By M.L. Dehm
SCBJ Freelance Writer

EVERETT — Every industry has its own resources to fall back on for information and support. Apartment operators and landlords are no different.

Locally, the Snohomish County Apartment Operators Association, or SCAOA, has provided information, classes, forms and other services since 1973.

A recession-driven increase in “accidental landlords” means a large number of people may be unaware of the services that SCAOA has to offer.

“Every year there are new people who become landlords and they don’t know what that means and what the requirements and responsibilities are,” said Bryan Mize, a Realtor and chairman of SCAOA. “It’s vitally important that people are aware.”

As these requirements and responsibilities can change with each legislative session, SCAOA works to keep members informed about issues that can affect their business.

An example is the recent legal change in the way lead-based paint must be handled. Pre-1978 rental properties are now subject to EPA lead-based paint laws for repair and remodeling.

“There have been some really hefty fines and settlements already,” said SCAOA board member and landlord-tenant law attorney Rob Trickler. “A lot of people don’t even know about this, let alone how draconian the requirements are.”

He explained that landlords caught failing to comply with EPA regulations can be fined up to $30,000 per occurrence. For example, should a landlord rip out and throw away an old painted baseboard, they could be fined $60,000. The first $30,000 would be for improper removal and the second $30,000 would be for not disposing of it properly.

“And if you don’t do the paperwork right you could be fined some more,” Mize said.

Part of SCAOA’s mission is to make sure that landlords have all of the information that they need to run their rentals successfully.

The organization is also extremely active in monitoring and assisting legislation that affects both landlords and tenants. A SCAOA membership helps to finance representation at a statewide level in Olympia through the organization’s membership in the Washington Apartment Association.

“The Washington Apartment Association has two full-time lobbyists in Olympia who are very well respected and get action on our issues,” Mize said.

Proposed changes to landlord-tenant laws are of key interest right now. Currently there are more than 60 pages of proposed changes to existing laws that SCAOA members are monitoring.

Issues include the need to codify what a landlord’s rights and/or responsibilities are when a tenant dies in the rental property. Now there is nothing in the law to cover this situation except to treat it as abandonment.

SCAOA is also supporting legislation for a voucher program so that funds earmarked for affordable housing programs can go into a program whereby tenants would have greater choice of housing options, including private rentals.

On Jan. 27, SCAOA members will attend a legislative day in Olympia as part of the Washington Rental Housing Coalition.

“That day we have scheduled meetings with our legislators discussing bills that affect landlords and property rights,” Mize said. “The general public is more than welcome to attend and should give us a call if they want to join us.”

Both Mize and Trickler believe the outing is an excellent opportunity for landlords to meet legislators and lobbyists and get educated on the issues that ultimately affect them.

SCAOA also offers services for members. The monthly newsletter focuses on current issues affecting landlords and apartment operators, from new laws to winterizing checklists and how to maintain crime-free housing. Many specialty vendors advertise in the SCAOA newsletter and offer special rates for members. Advertised services include cleanup service in order to “turn” a rental, disaster repair and newspaper advertising deals.

SCAOA also offers information on eviction procedures, how to do an energy audit for a rental unit and more.

SCAOA also recently simplified its membership fee structure.

“We provide a location for people to actually come and view credit reports when they pay for a screening of a prospective tenant so that they have an opportunity to comply with the federal law protecting credit information,” Trickler said.

Learn more

Find out about the Snohomish County Apartment Operators Association at www.SCAOA.com or by calling 425-353-6929.