Seattle has a housing affordability crisis. What is really needed is strict rent control, but the city government isn't ready to vote for that. Rather than just give up the fight, Sawant identifies small improvements like forcing slumlords to fix their rentals before they raise their rates. This proposed legislation, to limit the amount of upfront money that landlords can demand, is another small improvement.

I am a huge Kshama Sawant fan. Push for positive change. Push Push Push. Never give up.

it's any upfront payment the tenant makes in addition to the monthly rent. In some countries, notably Japan, such money is considered a gift to the landlord and is not returnable. Landlords here would love that, and some of them have to be sued for the return of the "security deposit."

It's a significant barrier to people who need to enter the rental market or who find themselves in substandard housing and want to move. Coming up with three to four months' rent in advance is just not possible for low wage workers.

Rent control is illegal by state law here, so nothing can be done at a city level except for cracking down on fees.