Revised Code of Washington
Chapter 59.18 - Residential Landlord-Tenant Act.
59.18.020 - Rights and remedies—Obligation of good faith imposed.

Revised Code of Washington

Title 59 - Landlord and Tenant

Chapter 59.18 - Residential Landlord-Tenant Act.

59.18.010 - Short title.

59.18.020 - Rights and remedies—Obligation of good faith imposed.

59.18.030 - Definitions.

59.18.040 - Living arrangements exempted from chapter.

59.18.050 - Jurisdiction of district and superior courts.

59.18.055 - Notice—Alternative procedure—Court's jurisdiction limited—Application to chapter 59.20 RCW.

59.18.057 - Notice—Form.

59.18.058 - Notice—Translated versions—Legal or advocacy resource information.

59.18.060 - Landlord—Duties.

59.18.063 - Landlord—Written receipts for payments made by tenant.

59.18.065 - Landlord—Copy of written rental agreement to tenant.

59.18.070 - Landlord—Failure to perform duties—Notice from tenant—Contents—Time limits for landlord's remedial action.

59.18.075 - Seizure of illegal drugs—Notification of landlord.

59.18.080 - Payment of rent condition to exercising remedies—Exceptions.

59.18.085 - Rental of condemned or unlawful dwelling—Tenant's remedies—Relocation assistance—Penalties.

59.18.090 - Landlord's failure to remedy defective condition—Tenant's choice of actions.

59.18.100 - Landlord's failure to carry out duties—Repairs effected by tenant—Procedure—Deduction of cost from rent—Limitations.

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.

59.18.115 - Substandard and dangerous conditions—Notice to landlord—Government certification—Escrow account.

59.18.120 - Defective condition—Unfeasible to remedy defect—Termination of tenancy.

59.18.125 - Inspections by local municipalities—Frequency—Number of rental properties inspected—Notice—Appeals—Penalties.

59.18.130 - Duties of tenant.

59.18.140 - Reasonable obligations or restrictions—Tenant's duty to conform—Landlord's duty to provide written notice in increase of rent.

59.18.150 - Landlord's right of entry—Purposes—Searches by fire officials—Searches by code enforcement officials for inspection purposes—Conditions.

59.18.160 - Landlord's remedies if tenant fails to remedy defective condition.

59.18.170 - Landlord to give notice if tenant fails to carry out duties—Late fees.

59.18.180 - Tenant's failure to comply with statutory duties—Landlord to give tenant written notice of noncompliance—Landlord's remedies.

59.18.190 - Notice to tenant to remedy nonconformance.

59.18.200 - Tenancy 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.

59.18.210 - Tenancies from year to year except under written contract.

59.18.220 - End of tenancy for a specified time—Armed forces exception.

59.18.230 - Waiver of chapter provisions prohibited—Provisions prohibited from rental agreement—Distress for rent abolished—Detention of personal property for rent—Remedies.

59.18.240 - Reprisals or retaliatory actions by landlord—Prohibited.

59.18.250 - Reprisals or retaliatory actions by landlord—Presumptions—Rebuttal—Costs.

59.18.253 - Deposit to secure occupancy by tenant—Landlord's duties—Violation.

59.18.255 - Source of income—Landlords prohibited from certain acts—Violation—Penalties.

59.18.257 - Screening of prospective tenants—Notice to prospective tenant—Costs—Adverse action notice—Violation.

59.18.260 - Moneys paid as deposit or security for performance by tenant—Written rental agreement to specify terms and conditions for retention by landlord—Written checklist required.

59.18.270 - Moneys paid as deposit or security for performance by tenant—Deposit by landlord in trust account—Receipt—Remedies under foreclosure—Claims.

59.18.280 - Moneys paid as deposit or security for performance by tenant—Statement and notice of basis for retention—Remedies for landlord's failure to make refund.

59.18.283 - Moneys paid by tenant—Landlord must apply toward rent—Tenant's right to possession—Installment payment plans.

59.18.285 - Nonrefundable fees not to be designated as deposit—Written rental agreement required—Remedies.

59.18.290 - Removal or exclusion of tenant from premises—Holding over or excluding landlord from premises after termination date—Attorneys' fees.

59.18.300 - Termination of tenant's utility services—Tenant causing loss of landlord provided utility services.

59.18.310 - Default in rent—Abandonment—Liability of tenant—Landlord's remedies—Sale of tenant's property by landlord, deceased tenant exception.

59.18.312 - Writ of restitution—Storage and sale of tenant's property—Use of proceeds from sale—Service by sheriff, form.

59.18.315 - Mediation of disputes by independent third party.

59.18.320 - Arbitration—Authorized—Exceptions—Notice—Procedure.

59.18.330 - Arbitration—Application—Hearings—Decisions.

59.18.340 - Arbitration—Fee.

59.18.350 - Arbitration—Completion of arbitration after giving notice.

59.18.352 - Threatening behavior by tenant—Termination of agreement—Written notice—Financial obligations.

59.18.354 - Threatening behavior by landlord—Termination of agreement—Financial obligations.

59.18.360 - Exemptions.

59.18.363 - Unlawful detainer action—Distressed home, previously.

59.18.365 - Unlawful detainer action—Summons—Form.

59.18.367 - Unlawful detainer action—Limited dissemination authorized, when.

59.18.370 - Forcible entry or detainer or unlawful detainer actions—Writ of restitution—Application—Order—Hearing.

59.18.380 - Forcible entry or detainer or unlawful detainer actions—Writ of restitution—Answer—Order—Stay—Bond.

59.18.390 - Forcible entry or detainer or unlawful detainer actions—Writ of restitution—Service—Tenant's bond—Notice.

59.18.400 - Forcible entry or detainer or unlawful detainer actions—Writ of restitution—Answer of defendant.

59.18.410 - Forcible entry or detainer or unlawful detainer actions—Notice of default—Writ of restitution—Judgment—Execution.

59.18.415 - Applicability to certain single-family dwelling leases.

59.18.420 - RCW 59.12.090, 59.12.100, 59.12.121, and 59.12.170 inapplicable.

59.18.430 - Applicability to prior, existing or future leases.

59.18.435 - Applicability to proprietary leases.

59.18.440 - Relocation assistance for low-income tenants—Certain cities, towns, counties, municipal corporations authorized to require.

59.18.450 - Relocation assistance for low-income tenants—Payments not considered income—Eligibility for other assistance not affected.

59.18.500 - Gang-related activity—Legislative findings, declarations, and intent.

59.18.510 - Gang-related activity—Notice and demand the landlord commence unlawful detainer action—Petition to court—Attorneys' fees.

59.18.550 - Drug and alcohol free housing—Program of recovery—Terms—Application of chapter.

59.18.570 - Victim protection—Definitions.

59.18.575 - Victim protection—Notice to landlord—Termination of rental agreement—Procedures.

59.18.580 - Victim protection—Limitation on tenant screening service provider disclosures and landlord's rental decisions.

59.18.585 - Victim protection—Possession of dwelling unit—Exclusion of others—New lock or key.

59.18.590 - Death of a tenant—Designated person.

59.18.595 - Death of a tenant—Landlord duties—Disposition of property procedures—Liability.

59.18.610 - Installments—Deposits, nonrefundable fees, and last month's rent—Statutory penalty.

59.18.620 - Definitions applicable to RCW 59.18.625 and 59.18.630.

59.18.625 - Late fees, charges for nonpayment of rent due between March 1, 2020, and six months after eviction moratorium expiration—Violations—Penalties.

59.18.630 - Eviction moratorium—Unpaid rent—Repayment plans—Rental assistance.

59.18.640 - Indigent tenants.

59.18.650 - Eviction of tenant, refusal to continue tenancy, end of periodic tenancy—Cause—Notice—Penalties.

59.18.660 - Eviction resolution pilot program.

59.18.670 - Security deposit—Landlord waiver, disclosure form—Fee in lieu—Claims for losses—Judicial action, collection activity—Violation.

59.18.900 - Severability—1973 1st ex.s. c 207.

59.18.911 - Effective date—1989 c 342.

59.18.912 - Construction—Chapter applicable to state registered domestic partnerships—2009 c 521.