This article was created out of a study conducted by Avvo, to better understand how the law intersects with people’s lives, and the issues they face when engaging with attorneys and the legal system. Given that nearly every working adult pays rent and/or taxes on property, and that real estate law represents one of the largest and most routine needs for legal help in the United States, understanding tensions in the current rental/real estate market is beneficial to the landlords, renters, property owners, real estate industry professionals, and attorneys whom Avvo serves. Go here for more details on the study, and check the links at the bottom of this article to learn more about the results.
A recent Avvo survey looking at the experiences and attitudes of renters in Seattle found over eight in ten (83%) believe rental prices are too high. The averages bear out that opinion: when surveyed, the average tenant in Seattle pays $1,251 per month, as compared to the national average of $1,051 per month. That pricing pressure is reflected in the difficulty of finding good rental options, as nearly three-quarters (72%) said it was tough to find a good place to rent.
Some blame the booming local tech industry for causing rents to spike; over half (58%) of renters surveyed think the tech industry is to blame for rising home and rental prices. And although Seattleites generally like their landlords or property managers—77% of renters surveyed believe them to be “generally good people”—many Seattle residents believe that their landlords aren’t helping, with one in three (33%) saying their landlords have raised rent too high.
The “Seattle freeze” and misbehaving landlords
Known as the “Seattle freeze,” Seattleites have a reputation for sticking to their established friends and habits in lieu of bringing new people into their circle, and don’t go out of their way to make friends with neighbors. But there’s hope—only fifteen percent of Seattle renters actively dislike most of their neighbors, although one in three (33%) have had an argument or fight with a nearby resident. Nearly half of Seattle area renters (45%) have suspected a neighbor of criminal activity at some point.
When Seattle renters aren’t happy with a situation, they expect their landlord to help out, and aren’t afraid to pursue legal action if necessary. One in five (20%) said their landlords haven’t helped them resolve issues with neighbors, and think lawsuits are the best way to solve problems with property managers.
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More articles on Avvo’s landlord/tenant research study:
