OLYMPIA, WA — A local landlord is thanking Washington state officials after realizing he had somehow gone six straight years without raising his tenant’s rent.
“I feel like such an idiot,” said landlord John D. “For years I just deposited the monthly check and went about my life. I had no idea I was supposed to be thinking about this constantly.”
John’s horrifying mistake was discovered after he learned Washington now publishes the maximum amount covered landlords can raise rent each year.
For 2026, that number is just under 10%.
John stared at the figure for several minutes.
“Wait. I can charge more?”
His tenant, meanwhile, had spent the past six years blissfully unaware that her landlord was a moron.
“I paid on time. He fixed things when they broke. Sometimes we’d wave at each other,” said tenant Amy J. “It was awful. We had absolutely no idea what the market rate was.”
Thankfully, the state intervened.
“I’m so thankful for the state ensuring that everyone raises rent the same amount each year,” Amy told Northwest Lampoon. “…Before this law, some landlords might forget to raise rent altogether. Thankfully, Olympia has eliminated that kind of reckless behavior.”