Question 1

How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Washington?

Accepted Answer

No maximum amount. A deposit requires a written lease and a move-in condition checklist; on written request, tenants may pay deposits, nonrefundable fees and last month's rent in installments (3 monthly payments for terms of 3+ months).

Question 2

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Washington?

Accepted Answer

Within 30 days after the tenancy ends and the tenant moves out: a full, specific statement of reasons for any retention (with estimates or invoices) plus any refund owed.

Question 3

How much notice does a landlord have to give before entering a rental in Washington?

Accepted Answer

At least two days' written notice stating the date(s) and time window, and entry only at reasonable times. One day's notice is enough to show the unit to prospective buyers or tenants. No notice is needed in an emergency or if the unit is abandoned.

Question 4

How much notice does a landlord need to give to raise the rent in Washington?

Accepted Answer

A landlord must give at least 90 days' prior written notice of a rent increase, except that a landlord shall give at least 30 days' prior written notice if the rental agreement governs a subsidized tenancy where the amount of rent is based on the income of the tenant or circumstances specific to the subsidized household. An increase may not become effective before the end of the rental agreement term, except that in a subsidized tenancy of that kind an increase may become effective upon completion of the term or sooner upon mutual consent (RCW 59.18.140(3)(a) and (b)). RCW 59.18.140(3)(c) is a transitional notice rule: for a tenant whose lease or rental agreement was entered into or renewed before May 7, 2025, and whose tenancy is for a specified time, if the lease or rental agreement had more than 60 days but less than 90 days left before the end of the specified time as of May 7, 2025, the landlord must give written notice at least 60 days before the effective date of an increase. That 60-day rule is limited to the tenancies described in RCW 59.18.140(3)(c) and is not a general replacement of the 90-day period in RCW 59.18.140(3)(a).

Except as authorized by an exemption under RCW 59.18.710, a landlord may not increase the rent for any type of tenancy, regardless of whether the tenancy is month-to-month or for a term greater or lesser than month-to-month, during the first 12 months after the tenancy begins, or during any 12-month period of the tenancy in an amount greater than seven percent plus the consumer price index, or 10 percent, whichever is less (RCW 59.18.700(1)(a)). RCW 59.18.700(1)(b) says that subsection (1) does not prohibit a landlord from adjusting the rent by any amount after a tenant vacates the dwelling unit and the tenancy ends. Beginning June 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, the department of commerce shall calculate the maximum annual rent increase percentage allowed under RCW 59.18.700(1)(a) for the following calendar year and publish the information on its website and in a press release. For this purpose, "consumer price index" means the June 12-month percent change in the consumer price index for all urban consumers, all items, for the Seattle area as published by the United States bureau of labor statistics (RCW 59.18.700(1)(c)). This answer does not state a published yearly percentage.

If a landlord increases the rent above the amount allowed in RCW 59.18.700(1) as authorized by an exemption under RCW 59.18.710, the landlord must include facts supporting any claimed exemptions in the written notice of the rent increase. Notice must comply with RCW 59.18.700, 59.18.720, and 59.18.140, and be served in accordance with RCW 59.12.040 (RCW 59.18.700(2)). RCW 59.18.720 requires a notice of rent increase in a form substantially the same as the statutory form in RCW 59.18.720(3), with an exception in RCW 59.18.720(2) for certain income-based subsidized tenancies. This answer does not restate that form in full.

RCW 59.18.710(1) provides that rent increases are not limited by RCW 59.18.700 for any of the following types of tenancies: (a) a tenancy in a dwelling unit for which the first certificate of occupancy was issued 12 or less years before the date of the notice of the rent increase; (b) a tenancy in a dwelling unit owned by a public housing authority, a public development authority, a nonprofit organization where maximum rents are regulated by other laws or local, state, or federal affordable housing program requirements, or a nonprofit entity, as defined in RCW 84.36.560, where a nonprofit organization, housing authority, or public development authority has the majority decision-making power on behalf of the general partner, and where maximum rents are regulated by other laws or local, state, or federal affordable housing program requirements; (c) a tenancy in a qualified low-income housing development as defined in RCW 82.45.010, where the property is owned by any of the organizations described in (b)(i) through (iv); (d) a tenancy in a qualified low-income housing development which was allocated federal low-income housing tax credits authorized under 26 U.S.C. Sec. 42 or successor statute, by the Washington state housing finance commission or successor state-authorized tax credit allocating agency, so long as there is an enforceable regulatory agreement with the Washington state housing finance commission under the low-income housing tax credit program; (e) a tenancy in a dwelling unit in which the tenant shares a bathroom or kitchen facility with the owner who maintains a principal residence at the residential real property; (f) a tenancy in a single-family owner-occupied residence, including a residence in which the owner-occupant rents or leases no more than two units or bedrooms including, but not limited to, an attached or detached accessory dwelling unit; and (g) a tenancy in a duplex, triplex, or fourplex in which the owner occupied one of the units as the owner's principal place of residence at the beginning of the tenancy, so long as the owner continues the occupancy. RCW 59.18.710(2) provides that subsection (1)(e) through (g) only apply where the owner is not a real estate investment trust, as defined in section 856 of the internal revenue code; a corporation; or a limited liability company in which at least one member is a corporation.

The official source note following RCW 59.18.700 quotes 2025 c 209 as taking effect immediately [May 7, 2025]. RCW 59.18.700, 59.18.710, and 59.18.720 each state that the section expires July 1, 2040. RCW 59.18.700 also addresses lease-type rent parity, enforcement and remedies, an opportunity for the landlord to cure an unauthorized increase, termination of the rental agreement before an unauthorized increase takes effect, and tenant-screening reports. Those provisions are not fully restated here.

Question 5

Can a landlord charge a late fee in Washington, and how much?

Accepted Answer

No late fee for rent paid within 5 days of its due date. After that, late fees may run from the first day after the due date.

Question 6

What notice does a landlord have to give before evicting for unpaid rent in Washington?

Accepted Answer

Under RCW 59.18.057(1), every 14-day notice served pursuant to RCW 59.12.030(3) must be in substantially the statutory form set out in the section. The form tells the tenant that the landlord alleges noncompliance by failing to pay rent and/or utilities and/or recurring or periodic charges that are past due, lists those amounts, and states that the tenant must pay the total amount due to the landlord within fourteen (14) days after service of the notice or vacate the premises. Any payment the tenant makes to the landlord must first be applied to the total amount due as shown on the notice. The form also states that payment must be made pursuant to the terms of the rental agreement or by nonelectronic means including, but not limited to, cashier's check, money order, or other certified funds. Subsection (2) provides that the form required in this section does not abrogate any additional notice requirements to tenants as required by federal, state, or local law. This answer is scoped to § 59.18.057 and does not restate RCW 59.12.030(3) itself. Example: a 14-day notice that omits the statutory form's statement of amounts due, or that is used as if it canceled a stricter local notice rule, would not match what § 59.18.057 requires; subsection (2) leaves additional federal, state, or local notice requirements in place.

Question 7

Can cities in Washington pass rent control?

Accepted Answer

There is a statewide cap: no rent increase during the first 12 months of a tenancy, and no more than 7% plus CPI, or 10% (whichever is less), in any 12-month period (exemptions under RCW 59.18.710; Commerce publishes the yearly maximum). Cities and towns may not adopt their own rent control (RCW 35.21.830).

Question 8

How much notice is needed to end a month-to-month tenancy in Washington?

Accepted Answer

A tenant may end a month-to-month or periodic tenancy with at least 20 days' written notice before the end of a rental period. Servicemembers with PCS or deployment orders may give less. A landlord may end a periodic tenancy only for a cause listed in § 59.18.650. Narrow no-cause exception: an initial 6–12 month lease may be ended at its end with 60 days' notice.

Question 9

Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in Washington?

Accepted Answer

Deposits must be kept in a trust account at a Washington financial institution or licensed escrow agent. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the landlord keeps any interest earned. The landlord must give a receipt and the depository's name and address.

Question 10

Is a move-in or move-out inspection checklist required in Washington?

Accepted Answer

A landlord may not collect a deposit unless the lease is written and the tenant gets, at move-in, a signed and dated checklist describing the condition of walls, flooring, furniture, appliances and other items. A landlord who collects a deposit without the checklist is liable for the deposit amount.

Question 11

Is landlord retaliation illegal in Washington?

Accepted Answer

A landlord may not retaliate against good-faith complaints to authorities or the assertion of rights under the chapter (§ 59.18.240). Action within 90 days of such an act is presumed retaliatory (rebuttable). The presumption reverses if the tenant was behind on rent (§ 59.18.250).

Question 12

Can a landlord change the locks or shut off utilities in Washington?

Accepted Answer

Removing or excluding a tenant without a court order is unlawful. The tenant can recover possession or end the lease, plus damages and attorney's fees (§ 59.18.290). Intentionally cutting off water, heat, electricity or gas (except briefly for repairs) makes the landlord liable for damages and up to $100 per day (§ 59.18.300).

Question 13

What can a tenant do if the landlord won't make repairs in Washington?

Accepted Answer

After written notice of a defect, if the landlord doesn't begin repairs in time, the tenant may hire a qualified person to make the repair. After the landlord has a chance to inspect, the tenant may deduct up to two months' rent per repair.

Question 14

What disclosures must a landlord give tenants in Washington?

Accepted Answer

Under RCW 59.18.060, landlords must give tenants written fire-safety information when the lease is signed, including smoke-detector notice and, in multi-unit buildings, evacuation information. They must also provide Department of Health information on indoor mold. For leases entered into after Dec. 31, 2026, they must also disclose possible flood-hazard location, that the landlord's insurance does not cover the tenant's belongings, and where county hazard information is available.

Question 15

What can a landlord do with property a tenant leaves behind in Washington?

Accepted Answer

If a tenant abandons the unit while behind on rent, the landlord may store the property and must mail notice of the planned sale or disposal. The property may be sold or disposed of 45 days after the notice; it must be returned if the tenant asks in writing and pays storage costs.

Question 16

Can a tenant break a lease early for domestic violence or military service in Washington?

Accepted Answer

A domestic violence, sexual assault, harassment or stalking victim with a protection order or a qualified third party's signed report can end the lease and leave without further obligation. The request must be made within 90 days of the incident (§ 59.18.575). Servicemembers with PCS or deployment orders may give less than 20 days' notice (§ 59.18.200(1)(b)).

Question 17

Is there a grace period before a late fee can be charged in Washington?

Accepted Answer

No late fee may be charged for rent paid within 5 days after the due date. After that, late fees may run from the first day after the due date.

Question 18

How much can a landlord charge for a rental application fee in Washington?

Accepted Answer

A landlord may charge for a screening report only after giving the required written screening notice; a landlord doing its own screening may charge only actual costs, no more than local screening services charge.

Question 19

Does a landlord have to give notice before not renewing a lease in Washington?

Accepted Answer

Landlords need a statutory cause to refuse to continue a tenancy. A fixed-term lease can end without cause only in limited cases (e.g., 12+ month term) and with at least 60 days' written notice before it ends.

Question 20

Can a landlord refuse Section 8 or other source of income in Washington?

Accepted Answer

A landlord may not refuse to rent, or set different terms, based on a tenant's source of income.

Question 21

Can a tenant fix something and deduct it from rent in Washington?

Accepted Answer

After written notice and a good-faith estimate, if the landlord doesn't start repairs in the required time, the tenant may hire a licensed or qualified person and deduct up to two months' rent per repair (and two months' rent total per 12 months). Repairs the tenant does personally are limited to one month's rent.

Question 22

What happens to the lease when a tenant dies in Washington?

Accepted Answer

When a sole occupant dies, the landlord must promptly notify the known representative, designated person or emergency contact. The tenancy ends 15 days after the notice or when paid-up rent runs out, whichever is later, unless a representative prepays rent (up to 60 days from the death) to remove the belongings.

Question 23

How does the eviction court process work in Washington?

Accepted Answer

The eviction summons must set a return day 7 to 30 days after service (the court sets the date when service is by publication), and must tell the tenant to appear and answer by then or the landlord gets the relief requested.

Question 24

Does a landlord have to provide smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in Washington?

Accepted Answer

Smoke detectors are required in all dwelling units occupied by someone other than the owner. The owner installs them. The tenant maintains them, including batteries. At each vacancy the owner must make sure the detector works before the next tenant moves in. Separately, residential buildings must have carbon monoxide alarms under building code rules.

Question 25

Can a tenant withhold rent for repairs in Washington?

Accepted Answer

If the landlord fails to fix serious conditions that endanger health or safety (such as no water or heat, plumbing hazards, or fire risks), the tenant gives written notice. If not fixed in a reasonable time, the tenant can ask the local government to inspect and certify the condition, then pay rent into an escrow account instead of to the landlord.

Question 26

What is the deposit bank holding / separate account rule in Washington?

Accepted Answer

All security deposits must promptly be put into a trust account kept for tenants' deposits at a financial institution or licensed escrow agent in Washington. Unless agreed otherwise in writing, the landlord keeps the interest.

Question 27

Can a tenant sublet an apartment in Washington?

Accepted Answer

The state landlord-tenant statute has no rule on subletting or assignment (full-text search of RCW 59.18). The lease controls.

Question 28

Does a landlord need just cause to evict in Washington?

Accepted Answer

Statewide just cause applies: a landlord may not evict, refuse to continue a tenancy, or end a periodic tenancy except for a cause listed in RCW 59.18.650(2) (such as nonpayment, uncured lease breach, nuisance, owner move-in or sale). Narrow exceptions let a landlord end certain fixed-term leases at the end of the term with at least 60 days' written notice (an initial 6-12 month lease, or a 12+ month lease that never went month-to-month).

Question 29

What is the eviction notices for other grounds (lease violation, no-fault) rule in Washington?

Accepted Answer

For a substantial breach of a material lease term or legal obligation, the landlord must serve written notice describing the breach and giving the tenant at least 10 days to fix it before the tenancy can end. For waste, nuisance, unlawful activity affecting the premises, or substantial or repeated unreasonable interference with others, the notice to quit is at least 3 days.

Question 30

What is the rent receipts, payment methods & cash rule in Washington?

Accepted Answer

Landlords must accept a personal check, cashier's check or money order for rent (they can refuse personal checks for 9 months after a bounced check) and must allow payment by mail unless they have an accessible on-site location. A landlord may refuse cash but must give receipts for cash payments.

Question 31

What is the eviction record sealing rule in Washington?

Accepted Answer

A court may order an eviction (unlawful detainer) case to be of limited dissemination if the landlord's case lacked basis in fact or law, the tenancy was reinstated, or for other good cause. Tenant screening companies then may not report the case or use it in any score.

Question 32

What is the tenant relocation assistance rule in Washington?

Accepted Answer

If a government agency condemns a unit or orders it vacated because of code violations the landlord knew or should have known about, the landlord must pay each displaced tenant household the greater of $2,000 or three times the monthly rent, plus the deposit and prepaid rent, within seven days. Exceptions cover tenant-caused conditions, natural disasters and eminent domain.

Question 33

What is the pet deposits/fees & service/esa animals rule in Washington?

Accepted Answer

The state landlord-tenant statute has no separate rule on pet deposits or pet fees, so any pet deposit falls under the general security-deposit rules in that law (full-text search of RCW 59.18). Assistance-animal rules are in fair-housing law, which this site has not reviewed for this topic.

Question 34

What is the condo conversion protections rule in Washington?

Accepted Answer

Residential tenants of a conversion building must get notice and the public offering statement at least 120 days before they must vacate. Cities and counties may require the declarant to pay relocation assistance of up to three months' rent to lower-income tenants who don't buy.

Question 35

How much does it cost to file an eviction in Washington?

Accepted Answer

$45. In superior court, the plaintiff in an unlawful detainer (eviction) action under RCW 59.18 or 59.20 pays a $45 case-initiating filing fee instead of the usual $200. The $45 does not cover an order to show cause or other orders, except a default order or default judgment.

Question 36

What is the domestic violence early termination rule in Washington?

Accepted Answer

A tenant who was, or whose household member was, a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, unlawful harassment or stalking may end the lease with written notice if they have a protection order or a qualified third party's report. Code text: "If a tenant notifies the landlord in writing that he or she or a household member was a victim of an act that constitutes a crime of domestic violence, sexual assault, unlawful harassment, or stalking."

Question 37

What is the military lease termination (federal scra, all states) rule in Washington?

Accepted Answer

Federal law that applies in every state: under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, a tenant may end a residential lease after entering military service, or after getting permanent-change-of-station orders or deployment orders of at least 90 days, by delivering written notice and a copy of the orders to the landlord. For a lease with monthly rent, termination takes effect 30 days after the next rent due date following delivery of the notice. Any state-specific rule on this page also applies. Code text: "The lessee on a lease described in subsection (b) may, at the lessee's option, terminate the lease at any time after" entering military service, the date of the military orders, or the date of a stop movement order (50 U.S.C. 3955(a)(1)(A)-(C)).

Question 38

What is the scra / military lease termination rule in Washington?

Accepted Answer

A tenant in the armed forces (including the National Guard and reserves), or the tenant's spouse or dependent, may end a fixed-term tenancy after receiving permanent change of station or deployment orders. The tenant must give at least 20 days' written notice with a copy of the orders. Code text: "Any tenant who is a member of the armed forces, including the national guard and armed forces reserves, or that tenant's spouse or dependent, may end a tenancy for a specified time if the tenant receives permanent change of station or deployment orders" (RCW 59.18.220(2)).

Question 39

What rights does a tenant have after foreclosure in Washington?

Accepted Answer

A tenant or subtenant still in the home when the property is sold in foreclosure must get 60 days' written notice to vacate before being removed under chapter 59.12 RCW (waste or nuisance eviction can proceed on the usual unlawful-detainer track). Statute text: "A tenant or subtenant in possession of a residential real property at the time the property is sold in foreclosure must be given sixty days' written notice to vacate before the tenant or subtenant may be removed from the property as prescribed in chapter 59.12 RCW. Notwithstanding the notice requirement in this subsection, a tenant may be evicted for waste or nuisance in an unlawful detainer action under chapter 59.12 RCW. (2) This section does not prohibit the new owner of a property purchased " (RCW 61.24.146(1)).

Question 40

What are the Airbnb / short-term rental rules in Washington?

Accepted Answer

Washington short-term rental operators must keep at least $1 million in primary liability insurance (or book through a platform that provides equal coverage) and must give guests a reachable contact plus other consumer-safety items. Cities and counties enforce first with a warning, then a civil infraction. Statute text: "A short-term rental operator must maintain primary liability insurance to cover the short-term rental dwelling unit in the aggregate of not less than one million dollars or conduct each short-term rental transaction through a platform that provides equal or greater primary liability insurance coverage. Nothing in this section prevents an operator or a platform from seeking contributions from any other insurer also providing primary liability insurance coverage for the short-term rental transacti" (RCW 64.37.030; RCW 64.37.050).

Question 41

Can a landlord deny a tenant for criminal or credit history in Washington?

Accepted Answer

Washington requires landlords to give written (or posted) notice before screening, stating what information will be accessed, what criteria may cause denial, consumer-report rights, and whether a reusable tenant screening report is accepted. Adverse-action notices must state reasons and may list criminal-record information among the grounds. Website listings must say whether reusable reports are accepted. Statute text: "Prior to obtaining any information about a prospective tenant, the prospective landlord shall first notify the prospective tenant in writing, or by posting, of the following" (RCW 59.18.257(1)(a)).

Question 42

What is the guest & occupancy limits rule in Washington?

Accepted Answer

The state landlord-tenant statute has no provision on guest stays or occupancy limits (full-text search of RCW ch. 59.18 (Residential Landlord-Tenant Act)). Local ordinances or other state or federal laws may still apply.

Question 43

What is the property manager licensing rule in Washington?

Accepted Answer

In Washington, leasing and renting real estate for others for compensation are "real estate brokerage services," and RCW 18.85.331 makes it unlawful to act as a broker or firm without a license. Statute text: "Listing, selling, purchasing, exchanging, optioning, leasing, renting of real estate, or any real property interest therein" (RCW 18.85.011; RCW 18.85.331).

Question 44

Can the city inspect my rental property in Washington?

Accepted Answer

Washington cities may require landlords to provide a certificate of inspection, but no more than once every three years. Properties with a certificate of occupancy in the last four years and no reported code violations are exempt. Statute text: "A local municipality may only require a certificate of inspection on a rental property once every three years" (RCW 59.18.125).

Question 45

What is the tenant buyout disclosures rule in Washington?

Accepted Answer

The state landlord-tenant statute has no provision on tenant buyout agreements or buyout disclosures (full-text search of RCW ch. 59.18 (Residential Landlord-Tenant Act)). Local ordinances or other state or federal laws may still apply.

Question 46

What federal protections does a tenant have after foreclosure in Washington?

Accepted Answer

Federal law that applies in every state: under the Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act (made permanent in 2018), whoever takes over a home through foreclosure must give a bona fide tenant at least 90 days' notice to vacate. A tenant with a bona fide lease signed before the notice of foreclosure (the date title passes) can stay until the lease ends, unless the unit is sold to a buyer who will live there as a primary residence; that buyer must still give the 90-day notice. Month-to-month and at-will tenants also get the 90 days. A tenancy is bona fide only if the tenant is not the borrower or the borrower's child, spouse or parent, the deal was at arm's length, and the rent is not far below market (unless it is subsidized). State or local laws with longer notice or more protection still apply, and any state-specific rule on this page also applies. Statute text: "the provision, by such successor in interest of a notice to vacate to any bona fide tenant at least 90 days before the effective date of such notice" (Pub. L. 111-22, SEC. 702(a)(1)).

Question 47

What is the manufactured / mobile home parks rule in Washington?

Accepted Answer

Under Washington's Manufactured/Mobile Home Landlord-Tenant Act, a lot rental agreement runs for one year unless otherwise agreed and renews automatically for the same term. A landlord who wants to raise the lot rent at the end of a term must give the tenant written notice three months before the increase takes effect. Statute text: "A landlord seeking to increase the rent upon expiration of the term of a rental agreement of any duration shall notify the tenant in writing three months prior to the effective date of any increase in rent." (RCW 59.20.090(1)-(2)).

Question 48

What is the rental / transient occupancy tax rule in Washington?

Accepted Answer

Washington treats furnishing lodging by hotels, motels, rooming houses and similar licenses to use real property as a retail sale subject to its 6.5% state sales tax. Lodging for a continuous period of one month or more is presumed to be a rental of real property, not a taxable license. Local sales and lodging taxes may add to it. Statute text: "The furnishing of lodging and all other services by a hotel, rooming house, tourist court, motel, trailer camp, and the granting of any similar license to use real property" (RCW 82.04.050(2)(f); RCW 82.08.020(1)).

Question 49

What is the right to cure / redeem rule in Washington?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A Washington residential tenant who receives a 14-day notice to pay rent or vacate can avoid an unlawful detainer by paying within the 14 days. For a broken lease term other than rent, the notice must give the tenant 10 days to comply or move out, and performing the term within those 10 days saves the lease. Statute text: "Within 10 days after the service of such notice the tenant, or any subtenant in actual occupation of the premises, or any mortgagee of the term, or other person interested in its continuance, may perform such condition or covenant and thereby save the lease from such forfeiture." (RCW 59.12.030(3)-(4)).

Question 50

Does Washington have rent control?

Accepted Answer

Except for exempt units, a landlord may not raise rent during the first 12 months of a tenancy, or by more than 7 percent plus CPI or 10 percent (whichever is less) in any 12-month period. The Department of Commerce publishes the yearly maximum.

Question 51

What is the warranty of habitability in Washington?

Accepted Answer

The landlord must keep the premises fit for human habitation throughout the tenancy, including substantially complying with applicable codes.

Question 52

What disclosures must a landlord give in Washington?

Accepted Answer

The landlord must give the tenant the name and address of the landlord, in the rental agreement or a conspicuous posted notice, and notify the tenant in writing of any change.

Question 53

What happens if a tenant stays after the lease ends in Washington?

Accepted Answer

It is unlawful for a tenant to hold over or exclude the landlord after the rental agreement ends, except under a valid court order. The landlord may recover damages and, in court, costs and reasonable attorney fees.

Question 54

Do landlords need a rental license or registration in Washington?

Accepted Answer

No state statute requiring landlords to register rental units was found in the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (RCW 59.18).

Washington landlord-tenant law FAQ