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Click link above to listen to KCLL's SideBar podcast episode on Landlord/Tenant law.

Are you a landlord or interested in the eviction process from the landlord's perspective? Check out KCLL's Eviction Process Research Guide.

Landlord Tenant (LT) matters are primarily governed by state law, but county and municipal codes, as well as federal statutes, may affect your issue. You should check each of these sources, including any supplements or pocket parts that incorporate recent changes to the law.

Websites

Washington Law Help. The Washington Law Help's website has lots of self-help material on landlord-tenant issues, eviction, and tenants' rights.

Client Assistance Memos are available from the City of Seattle about a variety of landlord/tenant issues.

Laws

The Washington Residential Landlord Tenant Act, found at Revised Code of Washington (RCW) chapter 59.18 imposes strict legal obligations on both parties to a residential lease. The RCW is kept on stack 20B.

County Codes and Municipal Codes may govern your lease. It is important to read the topical index to these codes, as they generally do not have a specific LT section even though they may affect state law. For example, the Seattle Municipal code places the duties of a landlord or tenant under Title 22-Building and Construction Code, while rental agreement regulation is found under Title 7-Consumer Protection. Unfair housing practices are under Title 14-Human Rights.

Federal statutes affect the state LT Act. Potentially applicable laws include the Federal Fair Housing Act (42 USC 3602 et seq.), the Americans With Disabilities Act (42 USC 12101) and the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 USC 701).

Case Law will explain how courts have ruled on issues similar to yours, as well as how the courts interpret particular provisions of statutory law. The secondary sources listed below will direct you to some relevant cases, or you may ask at the desk for a guide to using digests and annotated statutes to find other cases.

Forms

Sample Residential Rental Agreement
Forms for tenants can be found at the Washington Law Help's website. 
For landlords, the Real Property chapter of the Washington Lawyer's Practice Manual referenced below has sample forms.

Books in the Library

Residential Landlord-Tenant Law, KF590 .A2 R47 2001. This book contains material from a 2001 conference giving information on landlord-tenant law from the perspectives of landlords, tenants, and the courts. It has model forms for an unlawful detainer action.

Renters and Owners: Easy Access to Residential Landlord-Tenant Law in the State of Washington, RES KF 590 .Z9 S8 1995. This book, with its index and quick reference topic section, will help you get immediately to discussion of your issue. The book takes you step by step through the rental process and includes a chapter on where to go for help.

Landlord/Tenant Rights in Washington, RES KF590 .S77 1999. This book offers a precise and clear interpretation of the Washington Residential Landlord-Tenant Act. It explains, for the non-lawyer, your duties and rights as either a landlord or a tenant. It includes examples of various lease agreements, complaints and notices.

Washington Practice, RES KFW 80 .W3. This series, written for lawyers, contains an in depth discussion of LT laws in Volume 17 (Real Estate: Property Law). The series includes useful forms and is updated annually.

Washington Real Property Deskbook, RES KF 570 .Z99 W36 1997. Volume 2 of this multi-volume treatise has a section devoted to LT law. These deskbooks are an excellent source written by prominent Washington attorneys.

Washington Lawyer's Practice Manual. The Real Property section of this series contains a brief discussion of the LT Act, and the Mobile Home Act. Written in outline form for lawyers, this series consists of a basic outline of the law, along with a few practice tips.

If You Need More Help

Housing Justice Project. The Seattle Housing Justice Project (HJP) is a homelessness prevention project managed by King County Bar Association’s Community Legal Services program. HJP is co-sponsored by Columbia Legal Services, the Northwest Justice Project, the Legal Action Center, the Tenant’s Union, and private volunteer attorneys. HJP provides free legal help to eligible low-income tenants who would otherwise appear without legal representation at their eviction hearings. Call 206-267-7090 for more information.

Tenants Union. The Tenants Union is a Seattle-based organization that provides information on tenant rights and also advocates for tenants.