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Washington state has a booming economy, beautiful landscapes, urban environments, and a great culture. It is an excellent place for property investing as population growth, and employment growth is on the rise. From Mt. Rainier to Puget Sound, Washington state is a place for everyone. They are modernizing their culture and economy as well – Washington state expects to be coal-free by 2025.
Laws that impact the rental market, landlords, and tenants are constantly being decided in states. Make sure you know what’s on your ballot – find Washington voting information here.
When it comes to Washington state rental laws, there are a few specifics landlords need to know:
Application fee is limited to the actual cost of the screening/background report.
The State of Washington does not allow criminal background checks.
However, a recent federal case (Yim v. City of Seattle) just overturned this rule and found that Seattle’s Fair Chance Housing Ordinance violated the First Amendment. Seattle landlords will be able to inquire about criminal history in the short-term future, so watch for legislation correction and updates accordingly.
Seattle landlords must cap late fees at $10/per month.
State of Washington landlords can charge $20 or 20% of the rent owed, whichever is greater, with a five-day grace period.
Both Seattle and State of Washington landlords must provide a receipt if they collect a security deposit.
Washington adds source of income, citizenship or immigration status, marital status, military/veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, and service animal owners as protected classes.
The following disclosures are required statewide:
Seattle landlords must also:
Build a Washington lease agreement with all of the required disclosures in less than 15 minutes.
There are three sections to a residential lease agreement. The first section outlines the custom details of the contract, such as who’s involved and for what address. Here’s an example Washington lease agreement listing details found in Section 1:
Below are answers to some of the most commonly-asked questions when it comes to landlord-tenant laws in Washington:
Landlords must respond and fix problems in the rental unit within 10 days of being notified. This varies from state to state and in some it’s 30 days – however, Washington state landlords need to fix issues within ten days or they will be violating the state law.
The Landlord-Tenant Act in Washington only allows tenants four reasons for breaking a lease. These include a call to military service, a repair concern that the landlord isn’t fixing within the specific time frame, protections for domestic violence survivors, or if a tenant is threatened by a neighbor with a deadly weapon. Landlords cannot break the lease – landlords do have the right to evict tenants if the lease has been violated.
No, a landlord cannot enter without the tenant’s consent in Washington state. Landlords have the right to enter the renter’s home for necessary repairs or inspections that were agreed upon. The only exception to this rule is in case of an emergency or if a tenant has abandoned the rental unit.
Landlords can require renters insurance, but only at lease signing or renewing. However, even if it’s not required, renters insurance is highly recommended by landlords to protect their property and potential losses that could happen.
No, landlords are not required to provide fire extinguishers, but they are required to provide written fire safety information to tenants.
TurboTenant has utilized many municipal sources and official state statutes to compile this information to the best of our ability. However, local laws are always in flux, and landlords and tenants alike should be sure to do their due diligence and consult legal help when it’s needed. We hope the following list can serve as a valuable resource and allow you to succeed as a landlord or tenant in Washington state. Be sure to take proper precautions when it comes to finding the top candidates for your unit by utilizing our online rental application and tenant screening services.
Disclaimer: TurboTenant, Inc does not provide legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only. All users are advised to check all applicable local, state, and federal laws and consult legal counsel should questions arise.
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