Coast Property Management 8/3/2020

Page 4 of 15 Information for Tenants THE RENTAL AGREEMENT REGULATION ed to pro-rate rent when a tenant moves out after the ORDINANCE beginning of a rental period. The City of Seattle Rental Agreement Regulation Security Deposits Ordinance(SMC Chapter 7.24) regulates certain aspects of residential rental agreements. It requires If a landlord wishes to collect a security deposit,the a landlord to provide sixty(60)days'advance written deposit and its amount must be identified in a writ- notice of an increase in housing costs of 10%or more ten rental agreement. The total amount of a security within a twelve(12) month period; prohibits month- deposit and move-in fees cannot exceed the amount to-month rental agreements that require a tenant to of the first full month's rent. Additionally,the landlord stay a minimum period greater than one(1) month or must prepare and provide a tenant with a written be subject to the loss of deposits or other penalties; checklist or statement describing the condition, clean- limits the amount of security and pet damage depos- liness, and existing damage of the tenant's housing its, and move-in fees that can be charged to a tenant unit at the commencement of the tenancy. This state- upon move in; allows a tenant to pay security and pet ment must be signed and dated by the landlord and damage deposits, move-fees, and last month's rent the tenant. The landlord must provide a copy of the on installment plans; requires a landlord to take and checklist to the tenant for the tenant's records, and, return a deposit pursuant to state law; and to distrib- upon request,one free replacement copy. ute a summary of state and local landlord-tenant laws All security deposits must be placed in a trust account prepared by the City of Seattle to each prospective and the landlord must provide the tenant with the tenant,to each tenant upon move-in,and at the time a name, address, and location of the depository. The rental agreement is renewed. A landlord cannot retali- landlord must inform the tenant of any subsequent ate against a tenant or a prospective tenant for exercis- changes of the location of the deposit. ing or attempting to exercise the tenant's rights under this Ordinance. The Seattle Department of Construc- Security deposits must be returned in accordance tion and Inspections enforces this ordinance. For more with RCW 59.18.280 at the end of a tenancy. information call the Department's Code Compliance Division at(206)615-0808 or follow this link: http:// Pet Damage Deposits www.seattle.gov/dpd/codesrules/commonquestions/ rentalhousingproblems/default.htm A landlord can charge a pet damage deposit, but it cannot exceed 25%of the first full month's rent. Rent Increases A pet damage deposit cannot be required for an animal if it serves as an assistance animal to the The Cityof Seattle does not regulate or control rent. g tenant. However, the tenant is responsible for any However, the Rental Agreement Regulation Ordinance damage created by the tenant's assistance animal or does require a landlord to provide at least sixty(60) the assistance animal of a guest of the tenant. A pet days'advance written notice of any increase in hous- damage deposit may be charged in addition to any ing costs of 10%or more in a twelve(12)month pe- security deposit. riod; increases of less than 10% require an advance written notice of at least thirty(30) days consistent An agreement to pay a pet damage deposit must be with state law. These notices must include informa- included in a written rental agreement or in a written tion on how the tenant can access information on the addendum to the agreement, identify the amount of tenant's rights and responsibilities. Housing costs the deposit, and allow the tenant to pay the deposit in include rent, parking and storage fees, and other installments if requested by the tenant. periodic fees associated with a tenancy. Failure to provide a required sixty(60)day notice is a violation If the pet's occupancy begins at the commencement of SMC 7.24.030.A and SMC 22.206.180. of the tenancy,the deposit must be identified in the rental agreement. If the pet's occupancy begins after Prohibited Rental Agreement Provisions the commencement of the tenancy,the landlord must provide a written addendum to the rental agreement. Month-to-month rental agreements,whether verbal or in writing, cannot require a tenant to stay beyond A landlord may not retain any portion of a pet damage the initial period of the agreement. A landlord cannot deposit for damages not caused by the pet for which withhold a deposit or impose other penalties solely the tenant is responsible. on the basis that a tenant moves out at the end of the initial rental period. Pet damage deposits must be returned in accordance with RCW 59.18.280 at the end of a tenancy. However, a tenant who desires to terminate a month- to-month tenancy must provide the landlord with a Pet Rent written notice at least twenty(20) days in advance of The payment of rent to keep a pet is allowed. the end of a rental period. Landlords are not obligat-