BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Promoters of a renters’ rights initiative have gathered enough signatures to get it on the November ballot in Bellingham.

Initiative 2023-2 would require a landlord to pay relocation assistance to a tenant when raising rent more than 8%.

That assistance would have to equal three times the current fair market monthly rent or the current rent paid by the tenant, which ever is greater.

It would also require landlords to provide written notice 120 days before raising rent more than 8% within a 12 month period.

The county auditor has forwarded the intiative to the City Council, which can enact the measure or pass it on to voters in November.

Bellingham voters will also likely vote on a separate measure that would raise the minimum wage in the city to a dollar higher than the state minimum.