COVID-19 Lease Amendment Toolkit
Our partnering organization, Communities Rise and Perkins Coie LLP, created a COVID-19 Lease Amendment Toolkit for small businesses and nonprofits, to provide information and sample documents to help them negotiate their rent situation with their commercial landlord. They recommend that small business and non-profits take these next steps:
- Communicate with you landlord – early, written communication with landlord is preferred
- Review your lease
- Negotiate your rent and lease
- Investigate insurance details
- Utilize templates
They also offer a free 60-minute consultation with a lawyer for small businesses or nonprofits with 50 employees or less to help with COVID-19 lease related questions. To request an appointment, fill out this intake form.
If you need assistance in completing the intake form or you need in-language assistance, please email oed@seattle.gov or call the Office of Economic Development at (206) 684-8090 and leave a voice mail with the following information:
- Your Name
- Phone Number
- The language you need in English
- Tell us that you have lease related questions
An in-language staff member will return your call as soon as possible.
Washington State and City of Seattle Ban on Commercial Eviction
City of Seattle:
- From June 18, 2020 to January 15, 2022, there is a moratorium on small business, residential and nonprofit evictions
- Landlords cannot evict small businesses and nonprofit organization for non-payment of rent
- Landlords are required to enter into a payment plan or workout an agreement with small businesses and non-profits
- Landlords cannot increase rent to a small business or nonprofit until COVID-19 is no longer an emergency
- Tenants must pay back the rent within one year
- Landlords cannot charge late fees, interest, or other charges
King County:
- Starting March 18, King County Sheriff’s office will not be evicting residential, commercial, or post-foreclosures until further notice
Disclaimer
This information and all of the document templates created for the Lease Amendment Toolkit is intended for educational purposes only, not legal or financial advice. It is always a good idea to consult with a lawyer to obtain advice about how the law should be interpreted based on your situation. It is also a good idea to consult an accountant on financial questions.
Thank you
