Washington Statewide Rental Registry Study
State of Washington
HR&A provided Washington state legislators with comprehensive guidance on designing and implementing a statewide rental registry to address housing affordability challenges across the state. Working with over 200 stakeholders including renters, property owners, advocates, and local officials, we delivered actionable recommendations that will guide state legislators during the 2025 session and support the development of equitable and impactful housing policy at the State level.
Washington faced a pressing need to understand and address its housing affordability crisis, particularly for renters whose incomes often fall significantly below the median. Because of racial disparities in homeownership and income, rental policy disproportionately affects disproportionately affects Black, Hispanic/Latino, and other minority communities who are more likely to rent than their White or Asian counterparts. State officials sought expert guidance on how a rental registry—an inventory system for rental housing—could support various policy goals while balancing the interests of a wide range of stakeholders. The challenge required thoughtful navigation of complex policy considerations, cost implications, and implementation approaches that would work across Washington communities.
HR&A developed a detailed framework for Washington’s potential statewide rental registry that balanced practicality with effectiveness. Our team conducted extensive stakeholder engagement, gathering insights from hundreds of individuals representing various perspectives in the housing ecosystem. We analyzed existing registry models from across the country, identifying best practices and pitfalls to avoid. The resulting report provided legislators with multiple design approaches, clear cost implications, and concrete implementation strategies tailored to Washington’s specific needs. Our recommendations addressed potential impacts on both renters and property owners while establishing metrics to track registry effectiveness in improving housing outcomes. This work positions Washington to implement data-driven housing policies that can meaningfully address affordability challenges while creating transparency in the rental market.
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