What Landlords Need to Know About the Law in Washington

If you’re a landlord renting out properties in the state of Washington, it’s important to be aware of how the property management business is regulated both on the federal and state level. You must be vigilant about ensuring that your business operations are compliant with the law to avoid any unnecessary legal trouble.

For that reason, this article is designed to highlight five of the most important Washington landlord tenant laws that will help you make informed decisions going forward.

#1 Fair Housing Protections are Expanded.

Like all states, Washington falls under the jurisdiction of the federal Fair Housing Act. First passed in 1968, this law prohibits housing discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, familial status, or disability.

However, you should know that Washington state law adds to these protections. Any discrimination based on military/veteran status, source of income, immigration status, sexual orientation, or the use of a service animal is also illegal.

#2 There is No Rent Control.

Rent control is banned in the state of Washington, meaning that no municipal government can regulate or limit the amount that landlords charge their tenants for rent. Even though there are no strict guidelines for what you can charge, you should carefully consider amounts that keep your properties competitive in your market while also ensuring your business is profitable. The median statewide monthly rent is $2,195, while Seattle’s median rent is $2,324.

#3 Late Fees Are Limited.

If a tenant fails to pay their rent on time, you can charge late fees up to a certain amount. First, it is important to note that there is a mandatory five- day grace period for late rent. This means that a tenant has a minimum of five days after the rent collection date to pay their rent without penalty.

Once this period has passed, you are only able to charge your tenants up to either $20 or 20% of the cost of monthly rent, whichever value is greater. Considering the median rent prices that were previously mentioned, it is very likely the 20% of the rent cost will be the greater value in most cases.

Considering the regulations placed on late fees, tenants might wonder: are rental application fees legal in the state? There are no regulations placed on application fees, meaning that you may charge them if you wish.

#4 Security Deposits Must Be Returned Within 21 Days.

There are also no regulations placed on the amount that can be charged for security deposits, but whatever you end up charging your tenants, you are required to pay it back in full within three weeks of the end of tenancy.

Exceptions to this rule are not made for normal wear and tear that comes from use of the property. If you wish to withhold any funds from the security deposit, you must include a “full and specific” statement of your reasoning. However, Washington state law does not require landlords to return the amount of any interest that might have accrued while the security deposit was held.

#5 If Rent is Late, You Must Send a Two-Week Rent Demand Notice

If a tenant’s failure to pay rent becomes a consistent problem, eviction laws in Washington state require you to issue at minimum a fourteen-day rent demand notice before you can officially file for eviction. If a tenant pays their rent within that window, you cannot continue with the eviction process.

You should know that this fourteen-day period only begins after the mandatory five-day grace period. With this in mind, a tenant has a total of at least nineteen days after the rent collection date to submit a payment before you can take a formal complaint to court.

Other lease violations require a minimum of ten days’ notice during which the tenant has time to comply, while for serious violations (such as illegal activity), only a three-day quit notice is required before filing for eviction.

Final thoughts

Understanding the rules and regulations of your state will help you to make informed and careful decisions about your rental business, and hopefully this article has helped you along that path. Reading the property management laws can be difficult work, but it is necessary for the long-term success of your rental business.