New Landlord-Tenant Law

New landlord-tenant laws take effect today. First, the law requires that you indicate whether you accept a comprehensive reusable tenant screening report on each individual property’s website and in the screening criteria you provide to your prospective applicants. WMFHA recommends that you use one of the following statements on your website and in your screening criteria.

If you accept Comprehensive Reusable Tenant Screening Reports:

"We accept comprehensive reusable tenant screening reports as defined in RCW 59.18.030"

If you do not accept:

"We do not accept reusable tenant screening reports"

The law does not require this notice in advertisements on Zillow, Craigslist or other third party advertising website.

The law also increases the time a landlord has to provide a specific statement of deductions and any balance of the security deposit to the tenant from 14 to 21 days. WMFHA recommends that you continue to return the specific statement of deductions and the balance of the security deposit to the tenant within 14 days through the month of June and consistent with the terms of your rental agreement.

We’ve created FAQ’s on these parts of this new law to answer some common misperceptions on the law.

• For FAQ’s regarding Comprehensive Reusable Tenant Screening Reports, click here.
• For FAQ’s regarding 21-Day Return of Security Deposit, click here.

Please contact WMFHA at (425) 656-9077 if you have any questions about this new law.