22.220.210 - Receivership—Authorized when—Purpose.
A.
If a building contains uninhabitable low-income rental units that can feasibly be
made habitable and/or the owner of a building is not making a good-faith effort to
rent low-income rental units or there are vacant units that constitute a threat to
the public health and safety then the Director may request the Law Department to petition
the Superior Court, pursuant to RCW 7.60.010 et seq. to appoint a receiver to manage
and operate the building. In addition, the Court may be directly petitioned for the
appointment of a receiver by tenants who reside in the building under the following
circumstances:
1.
Where ten (10) or more tenants reside in the building, three (3) or more tenants join
in bringing the petition;
2.
Where less than ten (10), but more than five (5) tenants reside in the building, two
(2) or more tenants join in bringing the petition;
3.
Where five (5) tenants or less reside in the building, one (1) tenant or more brings
the petition.
B.
The purpose of the receivership shall be to take possession of the building for a
period sufficient to accomplish and pay for repairs and improvements to uninhabitable
units and/or to fill vacancies in units which have not been offered for rent in good
faith. The receiver appointed:
1.
May enter into week-to-week or month-to-month rental agreements for the rental of
any vacant dwelling units and may take such steps as may be necessary to make vacant
dwelling units available for rental and occupancy;
2.
May enter into any contracts necessary to repair and improve the building and to make
uninhabitable low-income rental units habitable;
3.
May apply for and accept loans and grants from the City for the purpose of making
low-income rental units habitable;