Wash. Rev. Code § 59.20 § 59.20.075
Presumption of reprisal or retaliatory action.
Operative Text
Initiation by the landlord of any action listed in RCW 59.20.070 (5) within one hundred twenty days after a good faith and lawful act by the tenant or within one hundred twenty days after any inspection or proceeding of a governmental agency resulting from such act, shall create a rebuttable presumption affecting the burden of proof, that the action is a reprisal or retaliatory action against the tenant: PROVIDED, That if the court finds that the tenant made a complaint or report to a governmental authority within one hundred twenty days after notice of a proposed increase in rent or other action in good faith by the landlord, there is a rebuttable presumption that the complaint or report was not made in good faith: PROVIDED FURTHER, That no presumption against the landlord shall arise under this section, with respect to an increase in rent, if the landlord, in a notice to the tenant of increase in rent, specifies reasonable grounds for said increase, which grounds may include a substantial increase in market value due to remedial action under this chapter.
Under Wash. Rev. Code § 59.20.075, when a landlord takes certain adverse actions within 120 days of a tenant's lawful act—or within 120 days of a related government inspection—the law presumes that action is retaliatory, shifting the burden to the landlord to prove otherwise. However, if a tenant filed a complaint within 120 days of a landlord's good-faith rent increase notice, the law presumes that complaint was not made in good faith. A landlord can also avoid the retaliatory presumption on rent increases by providing written notice that states reasonable grounds for the increase.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 59.20.075, operators who take adverse actions—such as those listed in RCW 59.20.070(5)—within 120 days of a tenant's protected activity face a legal presumption of retaliation. Compliant operators generally document the independent, non-retaliatory business reasons behind any rent increase or other action, and include those stated grounds in written notices to tenants. Providing specific, reasonable justification in a rent-increase notice is one way operators can rebut or avoid the statutory presumption under this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Wash. Rev. Code § 59.20.075 gives tenants a procedural advantage: if a landlord takes a qualifying adverse action within 120 days of a tenant's lawful complaint or government inspection, the law presumes the action is retaliatory. Tenants may raise this presumption as a defense in court proceedings or explore filing a complaint with a local housing authority or tenant-rights organization. Note that the provision also includes a counter-presumption if a tenant's complaint closely follows a landlord's good-faith rent-increase notice.
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.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.