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Landlord / Tenant Problems
This information is provided by the Attorney General's Office to give general information about the state's Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 59.18).
Since this is a lengthy and complicated law that continues to be interpreted by the courts, we recommend contacting an attorney when dealing with your specific landlord-tenant question.
Landlord-Tenant Law
Most tenants who rent a place to live come under the state's Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (PDF). However, certain renters are specifically excluded from the law.
Not Covered
Those who are generally not covered by the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act are:
- Renters of a space in a mobile home park. They are usually covered by the state's Mobile Home Landlord-Tenant Act (RCW 59.20 ). However, renters of both a space and a mobile home are usually covered by the residential law
- Residents of a public or private medical, religious, educational, recreational or correctional institutions and licensed nursing homes, monasteries, convents and hospitals
- Residents of a single-family dwelling rented as part of a lease for agricultural land
- Residents of hotels, motels, or other transient lodgings
- Residents of housing provided for seasonal farm work
- Tenants employed by the landlord who live in the rental unit as a job condition (such as an apartment house manager)
- Tenants leasing a single family dwelling for one year or more, when their attorney has approved the exemption
- Tenants using the property for commercial rather than residential purposes.
- Tenants with an earnest money agreement to purchase the dwelling
- Tenants with rental agreements with the state of Washington
Rights of All Tenants
Renters not covered by the Landlord-Tenant Act do have these basic rights under other state laws, including:
- Protection against lockouts and seizure of personal property by the landlord
- Protection from unlawful discrimination
- Right to a livable dwelling
- Right to hold the landlord liable for damage caused by the landlord's negligence