Signed by Governor Jay Inslee

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with house amendments and pass a bill that expands residential tenant protections.

Highlights:

• Defines “rent” or “rental amount” as recurring and periodic charges identified in the rental agreement for the use and occupancy of the premises, which may include charges for utilities, but does not include non-recurring charges for costs incurred due to late payment, damages, deposits, legal costs, or other fees including attorneys’ fees (Sec. 5).

• Requires a 14 day notice be given to tenants from landlords seeking an eviction, with clear information regarding the total amount owed for rent and utilities costs (Sec. 3).

• Requires a landlord to first apply any payment made by a tenant toward rent before applying any payment toward late payments, damages, legal costs, or other fees, including attorneys’ fees (Sec. 6).

• Specifies that the tenant’s right to possession of the premises is not conditioned on a tenant’s payment of the rent, however a landlord can pursue other lawful remedies to collect late payments, legal costs, or other fees (Sec. 6).

• Specifies that if, at the commencement of the tenancy, the landlord has provided an installment plan for non-refundable fees or deposits for the security of the tenant’s obligations and the tenant defaults in payment, the landlord may treat the default in payment as rent owing (Sec. 6).

• Specifies that the burden of proof for relief is on the tenant, and if a tenant seeks relief at the time of the show cause hearing, the court must hear the matter at the time of the hearing, or as quickly as possible, to avoid unnecessary delay or hardship on the parties (Sec. 7).

• Requires the office of the attorney general to produce and maintain translated versions of the 14-day notice in the top ten languages spoken in Washington on its website, and have printed versions available upon request (Sec. 4).

• Requires the state office of the attorney general to post available resources for assistance with rent payments, on its website (Sec. 4).

• Establishes the landlord mitigation program account in the custody of the state treasury, in which all transfers and appropriations by the legislature, repayments, private contributions, and other sources must be deposited (Sec. 13).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass with amendment a bill that expands residential tenant protections.

Highlights:

• Defines “rent” or “rental amount” as recurring and periodic charges identified in the rental agreement for the use and occupancy of the premises, which may include charges for utilities, but does not include non-recurring charges for costs incurred due to late payment, damages, deposits, legal costs, or other fees including attorneys’ fees (Sec. 5).

• Requires a 14 day notice be given to tenants from landlords seeking an eviction, with clear information regarding the total amount owed for rent and utilities costs (Sec. 3).

• Requires a landlord to first apply any payment made by a tenant toward rent before applying any payment toward late payments, damages, legal costs, or other fees, including attorneys’ fees (Sec. 6).

• Specifies that the tenant’s right to possession of the premises is not conditioned on a tenant’s payment of the rent, however a landlord can pursue other lawful remedies to collect late payments, legal costs, or other fees (Sec. 6).

• Specifies that if, at the commencement of the tenancy, the landlord has provided an installment plan for non-refundable fees or deposits for the security of the tenant’s obligations and the tenant defaults in payment, the landlord may treat the default in payment as rent owing (Sec. 6).

• Specifies that the burden of proof for relief is on the tenant, and if a tenant seeks relief at the time of the show cause hearing, the court must hear the matter at the time of the hearing, or as quickly as possible, to avoid unnecessary delay or hardship on the parties (Sec. 7).

• Requires the office of the attorney general to produce and maintain translated versions of the 14-day notice in the top ten languages spoken in Washington on its website, and have printed versions available upon request (Sec. 4).

• Requires the state office of the attorney general to post available resources for assistance with rent payments, on its website (Sec. 4).

• Establishes the landlord mitigation program account in the custody of the state treasury, in which all transfers and appropriations by the legislature, repayments, private contributions, and other sources must be deposited (Sec. 13).

Full Bill Text