Tenant Resources

BTU supports our members and other Bellingham tenants maintain healthy and stable rental housing.  If these resources don't solve your issue or answer your question, don't hesitate to reach out to us.  We can advocate on your behalf and use our relationships with elected leaders, city staff, and tenant attorneys to help you. 


Know Your Rights

211: Your Connection to Essential Resources

 
 
 
 
 

Legal Aid / Keeping your housing / Conflict Resolution / Tenant Counseling 

211 is a free, confidential service that connects individuals and families to vital community resources. Whether you're facing housing challenges, need help paying bills, or are searching for food assistance, 211 is here to guide you. Operated by trained specialists, 211 provides personalized support to help you navigate local programs and services tailored to your needs.

Accessing 211 is simple:

  • Call: Dial 211 from any phone to speak directly with a resource specialist.

  • Online: Visit 211.org to search for resources in your area.

  • Text: Many regions offer a text option—check your local 211 for details

As tenant advocates, we encourage you to use 211 to find support during difficult times. It's a lifeline for renters seeking stability and assistance in their communities.

  • LAW Advocates. This critical Bellingham non-profit provides free legal assistance to low income renters. Their phone number is 360-671-6079. Their free legal clinics have resumed and you can see their calendar here.

  • CLEAR (Coordinated Legal Education Advice and Referral) is Washington toll-free legal hotline for income-qualified tenants. You can call CLEAR Monday-Friday from 9:15 am to 12:15 pm at 888-201-1014.

  • TU Tenants Rights Hotline is a free resource with trained non-attorney Tenant Counselors to assist you with questions about landlord-tenant laws and discuss strategies to prevent housing loss. The number is 206-723-0500. The hotline is open Monday – Thursday from: 10am-12:30pm and 1:30-4pm, and Friday from: 10am-12:30pm. Interpretation is available in many languages.

  • Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center Housing Stability Program

    Are you experiencing conflict with your landlord or tenant? Are you facing or considering eviction? Has communication broken down with your housemate? Are relationships strained with your neighbor? Whether it’s rent, maintenance, communication, or moving out, you don’t need to face these situations alone. Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center has FREE Housing Stability mediation services that can help you navigate these challenges. Contact our case managers to learn more and get started! P: 360-676-0122 x115 EM: housing@whatcomdrc.org WEB: https://www.whatcomdrc.org/housingstability

  • If you file a Small Claims case in Whatcom County, the WDRC offers to mediate at no additional cost. You can also access mediation services on a sliding scale before filing and save the Small Claims court fee. Mediation does not negatively affect credit like court can, and it's an opportunity to improve relationships or to part ways on terms that work for everyone involved. You can contact them at wdrc@whatcomdrc.org or visit their website to learn more.

BELLINGHAM-Specific LAWS and resources

  • Tenants have a right to safe housing under the city's Rental Safety and Inspection Program. Your home should meet all the standards listed in this rental safety checklist. However, some landlords exploit a loophole in the program to hire corrupt private inspectors that falsify inspection reports. If you have a an issue with substandard housing conditions can call the city's Permit Center or submit a Code Enforcement Request (pdf).

  • Tenants in Bellingham benefit from the following protections thanks to an ordinance passed in 2018 by Councilmember Dan Hammill's and April Barker’s leadership and BTU's organizing.

    • Discrimination is banned by landlords against people with housing assistance;

    • 120 day notice required for all rent increases and

    • 120 day notice required for no-cause evictions.

If you're being discriminated against and your rights are being violated, we strongly recommend you submit a Code Enforcement Investigation Request to the city. We then recommend that you contact CLEAR and LAW Advocates for legal aid, as listed above. 

Initiative 2023-2: Economic Displacement Assistance

Initiative 2023-2, passed in Bellingham, establishes an Economic Displacement Assistance Program to protect tenants facing significant rent increases. Under this initiative, landlords are required to provide 120 days' written notice before increasing rent by more than 8% within a rolling 12-month period. If the rent increase exceeds this threshold, landlords must pay tenants relocation assistance equal to three months' rent—either based on the tenant's current monthly rate or the fair market rent for Bellingham, whichever is higher.

Tenant Responsibilities to Access Assistance

  • Eligibility: If your rent or associated housing costs increase by 8% or more within a rolling 12-month period, you may qualify for relocation assistance.

  • Notice Requirement: Upon receiving the rent increase notice, tenants must submit a written request for relocation assistance to their landlord within 45 calendar days of receiving the notice.

  • Relocation Period: Tenants who receive assistance have a 5-month relocation period from the date the assistance is received. This is the time frame within which tenants are expected to vacate the unit if they choose to move.

  • Remaining in the Unit: If you decide to remain in the unit beyond the relocation period, you will be obligated to pay the increased rent stated in the notice and repay the relocation assistance amount in full.

Relocation Assistance Amount

Tenants are entitled to relocation assistance equal to the greater of:

  1. Three times the current fair market rent for an apartment of the same size in Bellingham (as defined by HUD), or

  2. Three times your existing monthly rent.

We hope these resources were of help.

If you aren't getting the support you need, contact us and we will do our best to help.