Revised Code of Washington Chapter 59.18 — Residential Landlord-Tenant Act
Washington's core residential landlord-tenant law: habitability warranty, security deposits, rent-increase notice, just-cause eviction (§ 59.18.650 — dual-effective-date section, future version effective 2028-01-01), tenant remedies, attorney fees, and relocation assistance. 98 sections (§§ 59.18.010–59.18.912), confirmed 2026-10-07.
Provisions (98)
§ 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 -- Exception.
§ 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.
§ 59.18.368
Unlawful detainer action -- Residential tenancies.
§ 59.18.369
Unlawful detainer action -- Housing court commissioner duties.
§ 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.
§ 59.18.412
Forcible or unlawful detainer proceeding.
§ 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.
§ 59.18.670
Security deposit -- Landlord waiver, disclosure form -- Fee in lieu -- Claims for losses -- Judicial action, collection activity -- Violation.
§ 59.18.700
Landlord -- Prohibition on certain rent increases -- Notice -- Enforcement -- Penalties. (Expires July 1, 2040.)
§ 59.18.710
Landlord -- Prohibition on certain rent increases -- Exemptions. (Expires July 1, 2040.)
§ 59.18.720
Landlord -- Notice of rent increases -- Form. (Expires July 1, 2040.)
§ 59.18.730
Online landlord resource center.
§ 59.18.740
Portable cooling device installation.
§ 59.18.750
Smart access systems -- Alternative keys.
§ 59.18.755
Smart access systems -- Privacy policy.
§ 59.18.760
Smart access systems -- User data collection.
§ 59.18.900
Severability -- 1973 1st ex.s. c 207.
§ 59.18.911
Effective date -- 1989 c 342.
§ 59.18.912