Starting Aug. 1, landlords will be required to give residential tenants in the city of Kent 40 days notice to terminate their rental agreement.

The City Council unanimously approved an ordinance April 6 to give additional protections to renters. The state requirement is 20-days notice.

A violation of this ordinance provides the tenant with an affirmative defense to eviction, according to an April 26 city press release. The tenant and landlord may waive the 40-day requirement by mutual agreement after the notice is provided to the tenant.

With a high rental rate and diversity of languages in Kent, there is risk that many renters will not be able to easily understand the terms of a rental agreement, and may have challenges in finding housing when faced with the end of the landlord-tenant relationship, according to a city statement.

This ordinance is intended to empower tenants with additional time to find alternative housing while not interfering with the ability of landlords to manage their property related business.

By increasing the required notice period by 20 days, the council hopes to mitigate homelessness and evictions in Kent that occur as a result of renters being unable to find accommodations under the short notice of 20 days required by state law, according to the city press release.