Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18 § 59.18.435
Applicability to proprietary leases.
Operative Text
This chapter does not apply to any proprietary lease as defined in RCW 64.90.010 : (1) Created after July 1, 2018; or (2) If the lessor has amended its governing documents to provide that chapter 64.90 RCW will apply to the common interest community pursuant to *RCW 64.90.095 .
Washington's Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.010 et seq. § 59.18.435) does not cover proprietary leases—the type of lease arrangement typically found in cooperative housing—under two circumstances: when the proprietary lease was created after July 1, 2018, or when the governing organization has formally amended its documents to bring the community under the Washington Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act (RCW 64.90). In those situations, the rights and obligations of the parties are governed by that separate statutory framework rather than the standard landlord-tenant chapter. The distinction turns on the date the lease was created and whether the community's governing documents have been updated.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of cooperative or common-interest housing should determine whether their proprietary leases fall outside the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act under § 59.18.435, either because those leases were created after July 1, 2018, or because the community's governing documents have been amended to elect coverage under RCW 64.90. Compliant operators in these situations generally look to RCW 64.90 rather than the standard landlord-tenant chapter when setting policies, handling disputes, and drafting lease terms. Reviewing the community's governing documents and the dates of any proprietary leases helps clarify which statutory framework applies.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
If you live in a cooperative or common-interest community under a proprietary lease, § 59.18.435 determines whether the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act protections apply to your arrangement. Proprietary leases created after July 1, 2018, or those in communities whose governing documents have been amended under RCW 64.90.095, fall outside the standard tenant-protection chapter and are instead governed by RCW 64.90. Tenants in these situations may wish to review their community's governing documents, consult a tenant-rights organization familiar with cooperative housing law, or seek guidance on which statutory framework covers their specific lease.
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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