The Seattle City Council is considering a proposal to pay the legal bills for residents, regardless of income level, who are being evicted from their home and sued for back rent, could choose to contract with a lawyer that would be provided by the city free of charge.
NEWS RELEASE: Councilmember @cmkshama Hails Community Support for Tenant Right to Counsel Legislation, Calls for Swift Passage by City Councilhttps://t.co/yYFhd5a6oB
— Seattle City Council (@SeattleCouncil) March 3, 2021
According to KOMO News, the council’s Sustainability and Renter’s Rights Committee on Thursday voted 3-1 to advance the proposal to the full council and the proposal could be considered as early as Monday.
If approved, the city would be required to cover the costs for legal representation as the legislation would add a section to the Seattle housing code that would allow for the city to provide a lawyer for any renter facing a court eviction hearing.
According to the proposal, as soon as the tenant receives a summons for the eviction proceeding, the resident could ask for an attorney free of charge no matter what the tenant’s annual income is. The defendant would not be obligated to accept the city’s free legal representation, but if they opt to hire their own, Seattle would not be obligated to cover those costs.
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