## Meeting Overview The City of Bellingham's Planning Committee convened on April 13, 2026, at 1:35 PM in City Council Chambers for a focused work session on rental housing policy. Chaired by Council Member Hollie Huffman, with members Lisa Anderson and Michael Lilliquist, the committee gathered to examine the results of a comprehensive landlord and property manager survey conducted in 2025. This survey was designed to measure the impact of new rental regulations passed in June 2025, specifically targeting unfair and excessive fees for residential rental units, along with the city's rental registration and safety inspection program. The meeting represented a critical follow-up to a March 9, 2026 regular council presentation where the survey results were first shared. With over 100 pages of written comments from landlords and property managers, the survey painted a detailed picture of how Bellingham's rental market had responded to the new regulations. The data included breakdowns not just between landlords and property managers, but also isolated results from "mom and pop" landlords—those owning just one unit and managing it themselves or through family members. Legislative policy analyst Iris Knott presented the findings and facilitated what would become a wide-ranging discussion about next steps for rental policy oversight. ## The Survey Results and "Mom and Pop" Findings Iris Knott began the session by explaining the survey's methodology and timing. The survey had been distributed in October 2025, coinciding with annual rental registration notices, creating a cost-effective way to reach all registered landlords. The timing was strategic—conducted roughly two months after the ordinances took effect in Augu…