Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.010
Short title
RCW 59.18.010 through 59.18.420 and 59.18.900 shall be known and may be cited as the "Residential Landlord-Tenant Act of 1973", and shall constitute a new chapter in Title 59 RCW.
Revised Code of Washington Chapter 59.18 — Residential Landlord-Tenant Act
Washington · statute · Wash. Rev. Code ch. 59.18 · 98 active provisions
Provisions
Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.020
Rights and remedies—Obligation of good faith imposed
Every duty under this chapter and every act which must be performed as a condition precedent to the exercise of a right or remedy under this chapter imposes an obligation of good faith in its performance or enforcement.
Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.030
Definitions. (Effective until January 1, 2027.)
As used in this chapter:(1) "Active duty" means service authorized by the president of the United States, the secretary of defense, or the governor for a period of more than 30 consecutive days.(2) "Certificate of inspection" means an unsworn statement, declaration, verification, or certificate made in accordance with…
Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.040
Living arrangements exempted from chapter
The following living arrangements are not intended to be governed by the provisions of this chapter, unless established primarily to avoid its application, in which event the provisions of this chapter shall control:(1) Residence at an institution, whether public or private, where residence is merely incidental to dete…
Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.050
Jurisdiction of district and superior courts
The district or superior courts of this state may exercise jurisdiction over any landlord or tenant with respect to any conduct in this state governed by this chapter or with respect to any claim arising from a transaction subject to this chapter within the respective jurisdictions of the district or superior courts as…
Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.055
Notice—Alternative procedure—Court's jurisdiction limited—Application to chapter 59.20 RCW
(1) When the landlord, after the exercise of due diligence, is unable to personally serve the summons on the tenant, the landlord may use the alternative means of service as follows:(a) The summons and complaint shall be posted in a conspicuous place on the premises unlawfully held, not less than nine days from the ret…
Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.057
Notice—Form
(1) Every 14-day notice served pursuant to RCW 59.12.030(3) must be in substantially the following form: "TO: AND TO: ADDRESS:FOURTEEN-DAY NOTICE TO PAY RENT OR VACATE THE PREMISESYou are receiving this notice because the landlord alleges you are not in compliance with the terms of the lease agreement by failing to pay…
Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.058
Notice—Translated versions—Legal or advocacy resource information
(1) The office of the attorney general shall produce and maintain on its website translated versions of the notice under RCW 59.18.057 in the top ten languages spoken in Washington state and, at the discretion of the office of the attorney general, other languages. The notice must be made available upon request in prin…
Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.060
Landlord—Duties
The landlord will at all times during the tenancy keep the premises fit for human habitation, and shall in particular:(1) Maintain the premises to substantially comply with any applicable code, statute, ordinance, or regulation governing their maintenance or operation, which the legislative body enacting the applicable…
Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.063
Landlord—Written receipts for payments made by tenant
(1) A landlord must accept a personal check, cashier's check, or money order for any payment of rent made by a tenant, except that a landlord is not required to accept a personal check from any tenant that has had a personal check written to the landlord or the landlord's agent that has been returned for nonsufficient…
Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.065
Landlord—Copy of written rental agreement to tenant
When there is a written rental agreement for the premises, the landlord shall provide an executed copy to each tenant who signs the rental agreement. The tenant may request one free replacement copy during the tenancy.
Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.070
Landlord—Failure to perform duties—Notice from tenant—Contents—Time limits for landlord's remedial action
If at any time during the tenancy the landlord fails to carry out the duties required by RCW 59.18.060 or by the rental agreement, the tenant may, in addition to pursuit of remedies otherwise provided him or her by law, deliver written notice to the person designated in *RCW 59.18.060(14), or to the person who collects…
Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.075
Seizure of illegal drugs—Notification of landlord
(1) Any law enforcement agency which seizes a legend drug pursuant to a violation of chapter 69.41 RCW, a controlled substance pursuant to a violation of chapter 69.50 RCW, or an imitation controlled substance pursuant to a violation of chapter 69.52 RCW, shall make a reasonable attempt to discover the identity of the…
Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.080
Payment of rent condition to exercising remedies—Exceptions
The tenant shall be current in the payment of rent including all utilities which the tenant has agreed in the rental agreement to pay before exercising any of the remedies accorded him or her under the provisions of this chapter: PROVIDED, That this section shall not be construed as limiting the tenant's civil remedies…
Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.085
Rental of condemned or unlawful dwelling—Tenant's remedies—Relocation assistance—Penalties
(1) If a governmental agency responsible for the enforcement of a building, housing, or other appropriate code has notified the landlord that a dwelling is condemned or unlawful to occupy due to the existence of conditions that violate applicable codes, statutes, ordinances, or regulations, a landlord shall not enter i…
Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.090
Landlord's failure to remedy defective condition—Tenant's choice of actions
If, after receipt of written notice, and expiration of the applicable period of time, as provided in RCW 59.18.070, the landlord fails to remedy the defective condition within a reasonable time the tenant may:(1) Terminate the rental agreement and quit the premises upon written notice to the landlord without further ob…
Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.100
Landlord's failure to carry out duties—Repairs effected by tenant—Procedure—Deduction of cost from rent—Limitations
(1) If, at any time during the tenancy, the landlord fails to carry out any of the duties imposed by RCW 59.18.060, and notice of the defect is given to the landlord pursuant to RCW 59.18.070, the tenant may submit to the landlord or his or her designated agent by first-class mail or in person a good faith estimate by…
Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.110
Failure 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
(1) If a court or an arbitrator determines that:(a) A landlord has failed to carry out a duty or duties imposed by RCW 59.18.060; and(b) A reasonable time has passed for the landlord to remedy the defective condition following notice to the landlord in accordance with RCW 59.18.070 or such other time as may be allotted…
Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.115
Substandard and dangerous conditions—Notice to landlord—Government certification—Escrow account
(1) The legislature finds that some tenants live in residences that are substandard and dangerous to their health and safety and that the repair and deduct remedies of RCW 59.18.100 may not be adequate to remedy substandard and dangerous conditions. Therefore, an extraordinary remedy is necessary if the conditions subs…
Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.120
Defective condition—Unfeasible to remedy defect—Termination of tenancy
If a court or arbitrator determines a defective condition as described in RCW 59.18.060 to be so substantial that it is unfeasible for the landlord to remedy the defect within the time allotted by RCW 59.18.070, and that the tenant should not remain in the dwelling unit in its defective condition, the court or arbitrat…
Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.125
Inspections by local municipalities—Frequency—Number of rental properties inspected—Notice—Appeals—Penalties
(1) Local municipalities may require that landlords provide a certificate of inspection as a business license condition. A local municipality does not need to have a business license or registration program in order to require that landlords provide a certificate of inspection. A certificate of inspection does not prec…
Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.130
Duties of tenant
Each tenant shall pay the rental amount at such times and in such amounts as provided for in the rental agreement or as otherwise provided by law and comply with all obligations imposed upon tenants by applicable provisions of all municipal, county, and state codes, statutes, ordinances, and regulations, and in additio…
Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.140
Reasonable obligations or restrictions—Tenant's duty to conform—Landlord's duty to provide written notice in increase of rent
(1) The tenant shall conform to all reasonable obligations or restrictions, whether denominated by the landlord as rules, rental agreement, rent, or otherwise, concerning the use, occupation, and maintenance of his or her dwelling unit, appurtenances thereto, and the property of which the dwelling unit is a part if suc…
Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.150
Landlord's right of entry—Purposes—Searches by fire officials—Searches by code enforcement officials for inspection purposes—Conditions
(1) The tenant shall not unreasonably withhold consent to the landlord to enter into the dwelling unit in order to inspect the premises, make necessary or agreed repairs, alterations, or improvements, supply necessary or agreed services, or exhibit the dwelling unit to prospective or actual purchasers, mortgagees, tena…
Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.160
Landlord's remedies if tenant fails to remedy defective condition
If, after receipt of written notice, as provided in RCW 59.18.170, the tenant fails to remedy the defective condition within a reasonable time, the landlord may:(1) Bring an action in an appropriate court, or at arbitration if so agreed for any remedy provided under this chapter or otherwise provided by law; or(2) Purs…
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