Tenants at Crestwood Place say the sale of their building turned a stable affordable complex into a scramble to hang on to their homes, accusing the new owner of using deceptive relocation tactics to clear apartments. Residents of the 26-unit affordable property say a small cash offer and abrupt notices pushed long-term tenants - many immigrants and low-income households - toward displacement instead of stability.
The building was sold late last year to an investor identified as Reid Jones, who residents say took over from nonprofit Mt. Baker Housing. According to tenants, property manager Guide Property Services followed with a letter offering $1,500 to move and gave people just 11 days to respond to the deal, delivered on Nov. 19, 2025 - a timeline residents say falls far short of what city law requires. "Many immigrants have left because paperwork and communication were not provided in their language," tenant Benecia Callier told The Seattle Times.
What Seattle law requires
Seattle's tenant relocation rules say owners must secure a tenant relocation license before forcing tenants to move, and eligible low-income households are entitled to a set relocation payment that currently totals $5,354, with half paid by the owner and half by the city, according to the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections. The agency also says relocation funds have to be paid before tenants are required to vacate, and that owners who ignore the rules can face fines and enforcement action, including penalties of up to $1,000 per day.
City issues violation, owner seeks license
After receiving complaints, the city issued a violation to the new owner on Nov. 26, 2025, and ordered the notice rescinded, warning that legal action and fines could follow if the owner did not comply. The owner later applied for a tenant relocation license after that enforcement action, and Mayor Katie Wilson said in an emailed statement that her office is working to stabilize the affordable housing sector and improve communication about tenant laws for residents, as reported by The Seattle Times. City officials also told the owner to provide relocation money before asking tenants to leave, in line with municipal rules.
Tenants left asking what comes next
Longtime residents say the short notices, repeated inspection cancellations and early rent collections left people confused and mistrustful of the new management. Tenant advocates have called the $1,500 offer grossly insufficient compared with the city's formula for low-income relocation assistance, and say the case shows how fragile the preservation of affordable homes can be when buildings change hands. For now, residents and advocates are pressing the city to closely monitor compliance and to make sure notices and paperwork are delivered in languages tenants understand, so neighbors are not effectively pushed out by confusion on top of everything else.
