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Chapter 59.18 RCW

RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD-TENANT ACT

Sections

HTMLPDF 59.18.010Short title.
HTMLPDF 59.18.020Rights and remedies—Obligation of good faith imposed.
HTMLPDF 59.18.030Definitions.
HTMLPDF 59.18.040Living arrangements exempted from chapter.
HTMLPDF 59.18.050Jurisdiction of district and superior courts.
HTMLPDF 59.18.055Notice—Alternative procedure—Court's jurisdiction limited—Application to chapter 59.20 RCW.
HTMLPDF 59.18.057Notice—Form.
HTMLPDF 59.18.058Notice—Translated versions—Legal or advocacy resource information.
HTMLPDF 59.18.060Landlord—Duties.
HTMLPDF 59.18.063Landlord—Written receipts for payments made by tenant.
HTMLPDF 59.18.065Landlord—Copy of written rental agreement to tenant.
HTMLPDF 59.18.070Landlord—Failure to perform duties—Notice from tenant—Contents—Time limits for landlord's remedial action.
HTMLPDF 59.18.075Seizure of illegal drugs—Notification of landlord.
HTMLPDF 59.18.080Payment of rent condition to exercising remedies—Exceptions.
HTMLPDF 59.18.085Rental of condemned or unlawful dwelling—Tenant's remedies—Relocation assistance—Penalties.
HTMLPDF 59.18.090Landlord's failure to remedy defective condition—Tenant's choice of actions.
HTMLPDF 59.18.100Landlord's failure to carry out duties—Repairs effected by tenant—Procedure—Deduction of cost from rent—Limitations.
HTMLPDF 59.18.110Failure of landlord to carry out duties—Determination by court or arbitrator—Judgment against landlord for diminished rental value and repair costs—Enforcement of judgment—Reduction in rent under certain conditions.
HTMLPDF 59.18.115Substandard and dangerous conditions—Notice to landlord—Government certification—Escrow account.
HTMLPDF 59.18.120Defective condition—Unfeasible to remedy defect—Termination of tenancy.
HTMLPDF 59.18.125Inspections by local municipalities—Frequency—Number of rental properties inspected—Notice—Appeals—Penalties.
HTMLPDF 59.18.130Duties of tenant.
HTMLPDF 59.18.140Reasonable obligations or restrictions—Tenant's duty to conform—Landlord's duty to provide written notice in increase of rent.
HTMLPDF 59.18.150Landlord's right of entry—Purposes—Searches by fire officials—Searches by code enforcement officials for inspection purposes—Conditions.
HTMLPDF 59.18.160Landlord's remedies if tenant fails to remedy defective condition.
HTMLPDF 59.18.170Landlord to give notice if tenant fails to carry out duties—Late fees.
HTMLPDF 59.18.180Tenant's failure to comply with statutory duties—Landlord to give tenant written notice of noncompliance—Landlord's remedies.
HTMLPDF 59.18.190Notice to tenant to remedy nonconformance.
HTMLPDF 59.18.200Tenancy from month to month or for rental period—End of tenancy—Armed forces exception—Exclusion of children—Conversion to condominium—Demolition, substantial rehabilitation of the premises—Notice.
HTMLPDF 59.18.210Tenancies from year to year except under written contract.
HTMLPDF 59.18.220End of tenancy for a specified time—Armed forces exception.
HTMLPDF 59.18.230Waiver of chapter provisions prohibited—Provisions prohibited from rental agreement—Distress for rent abolished—Detention of personal property for rent—Remedies.
HTMLPDF 59.18.240Reprisals or retaliatory actions by landlord—Prohibited.
HTMLPDF 59.18.250Reprisals or retaliatory actions by landlord—Presumptions—Rebuttal—Costs.
HTMLPDF 59.18.253Deposit to secure occupancy by tenant—Landlord's duties—Violation.
HTMLPDF 59.18.255Source of income—Landlords prohibited from certain acts—Violation—Penalties.
HTMLPDF 59.18.257Screening of prospective tenants—Notice to prospective tenant—Costs—Adverse action notice—Violation.
HTMLPDF 59.18.260Moneys paid as deposit or security for performance by tenant—Written rental agreement to specify terms and conditions for retention by landlord—Written checklist required.
HTMLPDF 59.18.270Moneys paid as deposit or security for performance by tenant—Deposit by landlord in trust account—Receipt—Remedies under foreclosure—Claims.
HTMLPDF 59.18.280Moneys paid as deposit or security for performance by tenant—Statement and notice of basis for retention—Remedies for landlord's failure to make refund—Exception.
HTMLPDF 59.18.283Moneys paid by tenant—Landlord must apply toward rent—Tenant's right to possession—Installment payment plans.
HTMLPDF 59.18.285Nonrefundable fees not to be designated as deposit—Written rental agreement required—Remedies.
HTMLPDF 59.18.290Removal or exclusion of tenant from premises—Holding over or excluding landlord from premises after termination date—Attorneys' fees.
HTMLPDF 59.18.300Termination of tenant's utility services—Tenant causing loss of landlord provided utility services.
HTMLPDF 59.18.310Default in rent—Abandonment—Liability of tenant—Landlord's remedies—Sale of tenant's property by landlord, deceased tenant exception.
HTMLPDF 59.18.312Writ of restitution—Storage and sale of tenant's property—Use of proceeds from sale—Service by sheriff, form.
HTMLPDF 59.18.315Mediation of disputes by independent third party.
HTMLPDF 59.18.320Arbitration—Authorized—Exceptions—Notice—Procedure.
HTMLPDF 59.18.330Arbitration—Application—Hearings—Decisions.
HTMLPDF 59.18.340Arbitration—Fee.
HTMLPDF 59.18.350Arbitration—Completion of arbitration after giving notice.
HTMLPDF 59.18.352Threatening behavior by tenant—Termination of agreement—Written notice—Financial obligations.
HTMLPDF 59.18.354Threatening behavior by landlord—Termination of agreement—Financial obligations.
HTMLPDF 59.18.360Exemptions.
HTMLPDF 59.18.363Unlawful detainer action—Distressed home, previously.
HTMLPDF 59.18.365Unlawful detainer action—Summons—Form.
HTMLPDF 59.18.367Unlawful detainer action—Limited dissemination authorized, when.
HTMLPDF 59.18.370Forcible entry or detainer or unlawful detainer actions—Writ of restitution—Application—Order—Hearing.
HTMLPDF 59.18.380Forcible entry or detainer or unlawful detainer actions—Writ of restitution—Answer—Order—Stay—Bond.
HTMLPDF 59.18.390Forcible entry or detainer or unlawful detainer actions—Writ of restitution—Service—Tenant's bond—Notice.
HTMLPDF 59.18.400Forcible entry or detainer or unlawful detainer actions—Writ of restitution—Answer of defendant.
HTMLPDF 59.18.410Forcible entry or detainer or unlawful detainer actions—Notice of default—Writ of restitution—Judgment—Execution.
HTMLPDF 59.18.412Forcible or unlawful detainer proceeding.
HTMLPDF 59.18.415Applicability to certain single-family dwelling leases.
HTMLPDF 59.18.420RCW 59.12.090, 59.12.100, 59.12.121, and 59.12.170 inapplicable.
HTMLPDF 59.18.430Applicability to prior, existing or future leases.
HTMLPDF 59.18.435Applicability to proprietary leases.
HTMLPDF 59.18.440Relocation assistance for low-income tenants—Certain cities, towns, counties, municipal corporations authorized to require.
HTMLPDF 59.18.450Relocation assistance for low-income tenants—Payments not considered income—Eligibility for other assistance not affected.
HTMLPDF 59.18.500Gang-related activity—Legislative findings, declarations, and intent.
HTMLPDF 59.18.510Gang-related activity—Notice and demand the landlord commence unlawful detainer action—Petition to court—Attorneys' fees.
HTMLPDF 59.18.550Drug and alcohol free housing—Program of recovery—Terms—Application of chapter.
HTMLPDF 59.18.570Victim protection—Definitions.
HTMLPDF 59.18.575Victim protection—Notice to landlord—Termination of rental agreement—Procedures.
HTMLPDF 59.18.580Victim protection—Limitation on tenant screening service provider disclosures and landlord's rental decisions.
HTMLPDF 59.18.585Victim protection—Possession of dwelling unit—Exclusion of others—New lock or key.
HTMLPDF 59.18.590Death of a tenant—Designated person.
HTMLPDF 59.18.595Death of a tenant—Landlord duties—Disposition of property procedures—Liability.
HTMLPDF 59.18.610Installments—Deposits, nonrefundable fees, and last month's rent—Statutory penalty.
HTMLPDF 59.18.620Definitions applicable to RCW 59.18.625 and 59.18.630.
HTMLPDF 59.18.625Late fees, charges for nonpayment of rent due between March 1, 2020, and six months after eviction moratorium expiration—Violations—Penalties.
HTMLPDF 59.18.630Eviction moratorium—Unpaid rent—Repayment plans—Rental assistance.
HTMLPDF 59.18.640Indigent tenants.
HTMLPDF 59.18.650Eviction of tenant, refusal to continue tenancy, end of periodic tenancy—Cause—Notice—Penalties.
HTMLPDF 59.18.670Security deposit—Landlord waiver, disclosure form—Fee in lieu—Claims for losses—Judicial action, collection activity—Violation.
HTMLPDF 59.18.900Severability—1973 1st ex.s. c 207.
HTMLPDF 59.18.911Effective date—1989 c 342.
HTMLPDF 59.18.912Construction—Chapter applicable to state registered domestic partnerships—2009 c 521.

NOTES:

Reviser's note: This chapter was revised pursuant to Wash. Ass'n of Apartment Ass'ns v. Evans, 88 Wn.2d 563, 564 P.2d 788 (1977), which declared invalid the fourteen item and section vetoes to 1973 Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill No. 2226 (1973 1st ex.s. c 207).
Filing fees for unlawful detainer actions: RCW 36.18.012.
Smoke detection devices in dwelling units required: RCW 43.44.110.
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