Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18 § 59.18.257
Screening of prospective tenants -- Notice to prospective tenant -- Costs -- Adverse action notice -- Violation.
Operative Text
(1)(a) Prior to obtaining any information about a prospective tenant, the prospective landlord shall first notify the prospective tenant in writing, or by posting, of the following: (i) What types of information will be accessed to conduct the tenant screening; (ii) What criteria may result in denial of the application; (iii) If a consumer report is used, the name and address of the consumer reporting agency and the prospective tenant's rights to obtain a free copy of the consumer report in the event of a denial or other adverse action, and to dispute the accuracy of information appearing in the consumer report; and (iv) Whether or not the landlord will accept a comprehensive reusable tenant screening report made available to the landlord by a consumer reporting agency. If the landlord indicates its willingness to accept a comprehensive reusable tenant screening report, the landlord may access the landlord's own tenant screening report regarding a prospective tenant as long as the prospective tenant is not charged for the landlord's own tenant screening report. (b)(i) The landlord may charge a prospective tenant for costs incurred in obtaining a tenant screening report only if the prospective landlord provides the information as required in (a) of this subsection. (ii) If a prospective landlord conducts his or her own screening of tenants, the prospective landlord may charge his or her actual costs in obtaining the background information only if the prospective landlord provides the information as required in (a) of this subsection. The amount charged may not exceed the customary costs charged by a screening service in the general area. The prospective landlord's actual costs include costs incurred for long distance phone calls and for time spent calling landlords, employers, and financial institutions. (c) If a prospective landlord takes an adverse action, the prospective landlord shall provide a written notice of the adverse action to the prospective tenant that states the reasons for the adverse action. The adverse action notice must contain the following information in a substantially similar format, including additional information as may be required under chapter 19.182 RCW: Name Address City/State/Zip Code This notice is to inform you that your application has been: ..... Rejected ..... Approved with conditions: ..... Residency requires an increased deposit ..... Residency requires a qualified guarantor ..... Residency requires last month's rent ..... Residency requires an increased monthly rent of $........ ..... Other: Adverse action on your application was based on the following: ..... Information contained in a consumer report (The prospective landlord must include the name, address, and phone number of the consumer reporting agency that furnished the consumer report that contributed to the adverse action.) ..... The consumer credit report did not contain sufficient information ..... Information received from previous rental history or reference ..... Information received in a criminal record ..... Information received in a civil record ..... Information received from an employment verification Dated this ..... day of ........, ....(year) Agent/Owner Signature" (4) This section does not limit a prospective tenant's rights or the duties of a screening service as otherwise provided in chapter 19.182 RCW.
Washington law under Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.257 establishes a set of procedural requirements that govern how landlords screen prospective tenants. Before collecting any information about an applicant, a landlord must disclose in writing what information will be gathered, what criteria could lead to a denial, and details about any consumer reporting agency used. If a landlord ultimately denies an application or takes another adverse action, the landlord must provide a written notice that clearly states the specific reasons for that decision, following a prescribed format.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.257, compliant landlords provide written screening disclosures to every applicant before gathering any background information, including the types of data to be reviewed, the criteria that could result in denial, and consumer reporting agency details when applicable. Landlords may only charge screening fees if those disclosures have been properly made, and any self-conducted screening charges must not exceed the customary costs of local screening services. When an adverse action is taken, landlords issue a written notice in the format specified by § 59.18.257, identifying the precise reasons for the decision and including any required consumer reporting agency contact information.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.257 gives prospective tenants the right to receive written screening criteria and disclosure information before a landlord collects any data about them, which means an applicant can know upfront what factors may affect their application. If a landlord takes an adverse action—such as a rejection or conditional approval—the tenant is entitled to a written notice explaining the specific reasons, and if a consumer report was involved, the notice must identify the reporting agency so the tenant can obtain a free copy and dispute inaccuracies. Tenants who believe a landlord failed to follow these requirements may explore options such as contacting a local tenant-rights organization, raising the violation as a defense in a relevant proceeding, or reviewing additional protections available under chapter 19.182 RCW.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 7, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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