Bellingham is in an abusive relationship—with predatory landlords and profit-hungry property management companies. And shockingly, one blatant offender is someone who was elected with a promise to protect us: former City Council President and current councilman, Dan Hammill.

 

For decades, Bellingham renters have pled and wept, in desperation. We've submitted evidence. We've even created an interactive map to expose patterns of abuse. We’ve begged for actionable accountability. But instead of closing loopholes and standing up for more than 54% of Bellingham residents, Hammill has chosen to profit from our pain.

He is not just ignoring tenant abuse—he is monetizing it.

Dan Hammill's current tenant of 5 years is being forced to continue paying rent on a property that is not habitable. Here are just a few of his infractions:

• Failure to Address Unsafe Living Conditions: Despite being notified of severe water damage and mold growth on December 17, 2024, Dan Hammill ignored multiple repair requests. Independent inspections confirmed that the home contained “abnormal, excessive, and unhealthy levels of mold,” yet no action was taken. This demonstrates a clear disregard for tenant safety and legal housing standards.

 

• Violation of State Housing Laws: Under the Washington State Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (RCW 59.18), landlords must maintain safe and habitable housing, including timely repairs for hazardous conditions. Dan Hammill failed to act within the legally required timelines, surpassing the 10-day limit for repairs and failing to respond to documented concerns for over 56 days. This disregard for the law shows he cannot be trusted to enforce renter protections.

 

• Severe Health Consequences for Tenant: Due to prolonged exposure to mold and unsafe conditions, the tenant suffered serious health effects, including cognitive impairments, respiratory illness, and chronic inflammatory response syndrome (CIRS). The tenant was ultimately displaced from their home, lost personal belongings to contamination, and spent over $12,000 on related costs. Dan Hammill’s negligence directly caused harm, highlighting why he is unfit to oversee housing policies that impact vulnerable renters.
  
  
  

We can no longer trust Dan Hammill to be impartial on one of the most pressing issues facing our community. Tenants Revolt is calling on the rest of Bellingham City Council—Hannah Stone, Michael Lilliquist, Hollie Huthman, Skip Williams, Lisa Anderson, and Mayor Kim Lund—to demand Hamill’s immediate resignation. 

 

ACTION:

Add your name if you believe that this kind of unethical, self-serving behavior has no place in public office. Together, we can end white collar abuse and build a city where tenants are protected-not exploited. 

If you believe renters deserve justice, share this with everyone you know who deserves safe, secure, affordable housing in this city we love.

We urge you to join us this Monday, March 24th at 7pm for public comment during the Bellingham City Council meeting. 

#HammillResign #Tenantsrevolt