Passed in Seattle in early August, the Fair Chance Housing ordinance will prohibit landlords from excluding prospective tenants because of their criminal history. The belief, according to the bill’s sponsor, is that if a criminal has done his time, he has paid his debt to society. Sean Martin, external affairs director of the Rental Housing Association of Washington, said landlords will respond to the risk the ordinance causes by toughening the screening requirements they are still allowed to use, such as credit score consideration.
