Success Stories

Washington

1. Washington State Labor and Industries Department is suggesting requiring property managers to obtain a contractors license if the property manager authorizes any repairs to property they manage. As an alternative they suggest that the owner of the property sign all contracts for repair work, and sign the check for all work being done.

2. Insurance and Licensing costs are very expensive. It will affect our management capabilities, put us in a conflict of interest position, that must be disclosed, with our owners because we would be operating a business as contractors, and due to time and distance constraints of our owners, make it difficult to complete repair efforts in a reasonable time.

3. We used email and phone contacts to organize a campaign to inundate L & I with inquiries from as diverse a group as possible. We knew that since it was an election year, our State reps would be more responsive, so we played on that. Our goal was to get the language changed in such a way that our licensing through the Department of Licensing would be enough. We also did not want to be required to have owners sign every contract. They hire us to take care of that for them. We also used our contacts to involve DOL by suggesting that L&I was overstepping their bounds and invading the responsibilities of DOL. We were not told that L & I was getting input from DOL, but we suspect that behind the scenes a heated discussion was going to happen. As of today public hearings have not been held. As a lobbyist familiar with the process said, “They go through the public hearings because the law says they must, but most of the decisions are made before the hearings even happen.” So we will continue to follow the issue until all hearings are done.

4. We were successful in getting the language changed to: “Owner’s agent” for purposes of administration of RCW 18.27 is a licensed real estate firm providing property management services which is managed and/or owned by a broker that is licensed per RCW 18.85… Registration is not required for an owner’s agent provided registered contractors are hired for all construction, repairs or maintenance and provided the owner’s agent discloses to the registered contractor (1) the identity of the owner and (2) that they are acting as an agent for the owner.

5. Groups involved NARPM^®, WAA, IREM^®, REALTORS^®, contractors, legislators, and independent rental owner groups.

NARPM® has put together this webpage to highlight the successful grassroots efforts of our members all across the country. We hope these case studies will assist you in your efforts to win legislative battles at the state and local level. If you have a success story that you would like to share with other members of NARPM®, please e-mail govtaffairschair@narpm.org.

1. What was the issue? (quick description)
2. What was the background of the issue? (details about the proposal and how it would affect NARPM® members)
3. What steps did you take to fight/support the issue? (include links to any documents used)
4. What was the final outcome? (and will there be any more activity on the issue)
5. Who was involved?