Are you facing challenges as a renter in Whatcom County? We want to hear from you
Whatcom County, like much of the country, is facing a housing crisis. The cost of rental units has been exponentially increasing over the last several years with more and more renters becoming cost-burdened.
In Bellingham, 56% of renters are cost-burdened, meaning more than 30% of their income goes toward housing. Renters living throughout Whatcom County spend a median of 32.9% of household income on housing costs, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2017-21 American Community Survey.
As of May 2023, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Bellingham was $1,438, according to data from Zumper. That’s a 6% increase compared with the previous year.
Although the cost of housing continues to increase, tenant advocates say many renters continue to live in uninhabitable conditions that go unmitigated by landlords and property management companies.
As we continue to explore the topics of tenant experiences, The Bellingham Herald wants to hear from you.
What kinds of challenges have you faced as a renter in Whatcom County?
Our poll will be open until midnight on Friday, June 9. Please check as many boxes as are applicable to your experience.