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Redmond council subcommittee to study tenant protections including fees, right‑to‑move and a possible housing ombuds role

Redmond City Council · April 29, 2026
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Summary

Council Member Kritzker reported that the tenant‑protections subcommittee will review fees (utility, pet, application), right of first refusal/continued tenancy questions, retaliation protections, tenant‑rights notices and a potential housing ombuds position or contracted model; the committee will pursue community engagement and staff coordination before returning recommendations.

Council Member Kritzker, who chairs the council’s tenant‑protections subcommittee, updated the full council during talk time on April 28 about the group’s planned work.

Kritzker said the subcommittee will study a range of items raised repeatedly by residents: whether certain fees (utility fees, pet rent, application fees) should be regulated; potential rights for existing tenants to remain or have a right of first refusal in some transactions; protections against landlord retaliation when renters assert rights; better notification and posting of tenant rights; and the feasibility of a housing‑ombuds position (in‑house or contracted) to respond to tenant disputes.

“We’re committed to engaging the entire community as we consider these possible code changes,” Kritzker said, adding that the subcommittee will prioritize items that are actionable and coordinate with staff on scope and feasibility.

Council members suggested specific follow‑ups: evaluate whether caps on rate increases are controlled by state law, examine nuances for small individual landlords versus large owners, and look at examples from neighboring jurisdictions (including King County’s recent action on rent‑setting software). Council Member Parsi asked the subcommittee to consider domestic‑violence provisions (early lease exit) and who pays legal fees in landlord‑tenant disputes.

Next steps: the subcommittee will develop a community‑engagement plan, coordinate with staff on what is feasible for the current year’s work plan, and return with prioritized recommendations.