RCW 59.18.255
Source of income—Landlords prohibited from certain acts—Violation—Penalties.
(1) A landlord may not, based on the source of income of an otherwise eligible prospective tenant or current tenant:
(a) Refuse to lease or rent any real property to a prospective tenant or current tenant, unless the: (i) Prospective tenant's or current tenant's source of income is conditioned on the real property passing inspection; (ii) written estimate of the cost of improvements necessary to pass inspection is more than one thousand five hundred dollars; and (iii) landlord has not received moneys from the landlord mitigation program account to make the improvements;
(b) Expel a prospective tenant or current tenant from any real property;
(c) Make any distinction, discrimination, or restriction against a prospective tenant or current tenant in the price, terms, conditions, fees, or privileges relating to the rental, lease, or occupancy of real property or in the furnishing of any facilities or services in connection with the rental, lease, or occupancy of real property;
(d) Attempt to discourage the rental or lease of any real property to a prospective tenant or current tenant;
(e) Assist, induce, incite, or coerce another person to commit an act or engage in a practice that violates this section;
(f) Coerce, intimidate, threaten, or interfere with any person in the exercise or enjoyment of, or on account of the person having exercised or enjoyed or having aided or encouraged any other person in the exercise or enjoyment of, any right granted or protected under this section;
(g) Represent to a person that a dwelling unit is not available for inspection or rental when the dwelling unit in fact is available for inspection or rental; or
(h) Otherwise make unavailable or deny a dwelling unit to a prospective tenant or current tenant that, but for his or her source of income, would be eligible to rent real property.
(2) A landlord may not publish, circulate, issue, or display, or cause to be published, circulated, issued, or displayed, any communication, notice, advertisement, or sign of any kind relating to the rental or lease of real property that indicates a preference, limitation, or requirement based on any source of income.
(3) If a landlord requires that a prospective tenant or current tenant have a certain threshold level of income, any source of income in the form of a rent voucher or subsidy must be subtracted from the total of the monthly rent prior to calculating if the income criteria have been met.
(4) A person in violation of this section shall be held liable in a civil action up to four and one-half times the monthly rent of the real property at issue, as well as court costs and reasonable attorneys' fees.
(5) As used in this section, "source of income" includes benefits or subsidy programs including housing assistance, public assistance, emergency rental assistance, veterans benefits, social security, supplemental security income or other retirement programs, and other programs administered by any federal, state, local, or nonprofit entity. "Source of income" does not include income derived in an illegal manner.
[ 2018 c 66 § 1.]
NOTES:
Effective date—2018 c 66 § 1: "Section 1 of this act takes effect September 30, 2018." [ 2018 c 66 § 6.]
Structure Revised Code of Washington
Title 59 - Landlord and Tenant
Chapter 59.18 - Residential Landlord-Tenant Act.
59.18.020 - Rights and remedies—Obligation of good faith imposed.
59.18.040 - Living arrangements exempted from chapter.
59.18.050 - Jurisdiction of district and superior courts.
59.18.058 - Notice—Translated versions—Legal or advocacy resource information.
59.18.063 - Landlord—Written receipts for payments made by tenant.
59.18.065 - Landlord—Copy of written rental agreement to tenant.
59.18.075 - Seizure of illegal drugs—Notification of landlord.
59.18.080 - Payment of rent condition to exercising remedies—Exceptions.
59.18.090 - Landlord's failure to remedy defective condition—Tenant's choice of actions.
59.18.120 - Defective condition—Unfeasible to remedy defect—Termination of tenancy.
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.
59.18.190 - Notice to tenant to remedy nonconformance.
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.
59.18.240 - 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.
59.18.315 - Mediation of disputes by independent third party.
59.18.320 - Arbitration—Authorized—Exceptions—Notice—Procedure.
59.18.330 - Arbitration—Application—Hearings—Decisions.
59.18.350 - Arbitration—Completion of arbitration after giving notice.
59.18.354 - Threatening behavior by landlord—Termination of agreement—Financial obligations.
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.
59.18.415 - 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.
59.18.500 - Gang-related activity—Legislative findings, declarations, and intent.
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.
59.18.585 - 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.
59.18.630 - Eviction moratorium—Unpaid rent—Repayment plans—Rental assistance.
59.18.660 - Eviction resolution pilot program.
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.