Korean Americans join Washington landlord’s protest against tenant who owes $80,000 in rent

(Source)

A Washington landlord has staged a protest outside his rental home against a tenant who is apparently using legal loopholes to avoid eviction.

Key points:

• Landlord Jaskaran Singh is owed more than $80,000 in total unpaid rent by a tenant who allegedly abused eviction protection programs.

• The tenant initially received assistance to cover back rent and moving time, but chose to remain in the property.

• Frustrated by the lack of legal recourse, Singh staged a protest outside his rental house on Saturday to draw attention to his plight.

The details:

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• Singh leased his Bellevue single-family home to tenant Sang Kim in 2022 and only received the down payment and the following month’s rent when the family moved out. After months of nonpayment and failed city-led mediation attempts, Singh’s attorney, Stephen Freeborn, began eviction proceedings.

• The King County Bar Association Housing Justice Project (HJP) Homelessness Prevention Program stepped in, providing free legal advice to the tenant and covering back rent plus a three-month down payment to allow time for relocation. Despite receiving support, the tenant refused to vacate and has not paid any rent since May 2023. The original lease expired in April 2023.

• The tenant, who claims to be a Korean citizen struggling to make it in the US, alleged misrepresentation and accused Singh of neglectful management of the property. He even managed to get a temporary restraining order against Singh’s attempts to evict him.

• HJP representative Edmund Witter acknowledged an increase in eviction requests, but noted that many tenants are struggling financially. Kim claimed that his financial difficulties stemmed from losing his job due to the pandemic in the medical consulting field.

• Meanwhile, Singh, who lost his job last year, has now taken on two jobs to help pay the rental property’s mortgage and utilities in addition to his own jobs.

• Singh’s lawyer pointed to the damaging impact of protracted eviction processes on both landlords and tenants, citing delays and delays in the court system as contributing factors. Asked about the tenant’s financial claims, Freeborn said, “The guy can’t pay his rent, but he has two brand new cars parked in the driveway.”

• Singh’s protest on March 16, which was filmed by Seattle journalist Jonathan Choe, garnered significant support, drawing a crowd of more than 200 people, made up of residents, property owners and politicians from both parties. Korean-American leaders also joined the protest and condemned the tenant’s actions as a “disgrace to the community.” The tenant allegedly called the police during Singh’s staged protest, leading to officers advising Singh and his supporters to leave the property.

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The whole picture:

• The case highlights a systemic failure in the evacuation process. Existing statutes intended to expedite eviction cases (within 30 days) are not being followed, harming potentially vulnerable landlords and tenants. The delay in evictions stems, in part, from pandemic-era rent deferment and eviction freeze policies. Freeborn blamed the court system for the routine delays, which add to landlords’ backlogs and financial burdens.

What’s next:

• Filed last year, Singh’s eviction case against the tenant will resume in court on April 5. Singh was granted a warrant of execution in January, but the HJP requested a stay, effectively delaying the eviction attempt. The landlord and his supporters vow to stage weekly protests until the tenant leaves.

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