Coast Property Management 8/3/2020

Page 6 of 15 Information for Tenants payment of last month's rent does not apply to tenants 1. The requirement that a rental agreement contain who rent a housing unit in a single-family house or at- certain specific provisions; tached accessory dwelling unit if the owner resides in 2. The limitations imposed on security deposits, pet the house as the owner's principal residence. damage deposits, and non-refundable move-in Pet Damage Deposits fees;or 3. The requirement to adopt an installment payment A tenant may elect to pay a pet damage deposit in three plan (3)equal monthly installments beginning on the first full The landlord shall be liable to the tenant for: month the pet occupies the housing unit. A tenant may propose an alternative installment schedule to which the 1. Actual damages incurred by the tenant because of landlord may agree. If an alternative plan is mutually the landlord's attempted enforcement; agreed to,it must be described in a written rental agree- 2. Double the amount of any penalties imposed by ment or a written addendum to the agreement. the City of Seattle; If a tenant wants to pay a security deposit,move-in fees, 3, Double the amount of any security deposit unlaw- a pet damage deposit,or last month's rent in install- fully charged or withheld by the landlord; ments,the tenant must request such a payment plan. 4, Up to$3,000; and Summary of Landlord and Tenant Rights 5, Reasonable attorney fees and court costs. A landlord must distribute a summary of state landlord tenant law and City of Seattle rental housing codes Tenant Waiver of Rights or Remedies describing the rights, obligations, and remedies of landlords and tenants under these laws. This require- No residential rental agreement,whether oral or writ- ment can be met by distributing the current version ten, can waive rights or remedies under the Rental of the Seattle Department of Construction and In- Agreement Regulation Ordinance. However, a land- spections Publication Information for Tenants. This lord and tenant may agree to waive certain specific document must be given to each prospective tenant, requirements of the Ordinance. In order to do this, the to a tenant at the time a rental agreement is offered, following conditions must be met: and when a rental agreement is renewed. Month-to- month tenants must receive the most current version 1. The agreement must specify in writing the specific of this document at least once a year. When a rental provisions to be waived; agreement is renewed, Information for Tenants maybe 2. The agreement cannot appear in a standard form, be distributed electronically. The current version of lease, or rental agreement; Information for Tenants can be accessed at: awww. 3. There can be no substantial inequity in the bar- seattle,gov/dpd/cros/groups/pan/®pan/documents/ gaining positions of the landlord and tenant; and web_informational/dpdd016420.pdf 4. The tenant must be represented by an attorney If a landlord fails to distribute the summary in accor- who has approved the agreement as being in corn- dance with these requirements, a tenant may termi- pliance with the requirements of the Ordinance. nate the rental agreement by written notice. In addi- tion,the tenant may recover, in a civil action against the landlord, actual damages, attorney fees, and a Exceptions penalty of up to$500. If a court determines that the The provisions of this Ordinance limiting and restrict- landlord deliberately failed to comply with this require- ment, the penalty may be up to$1,000. ing the amount of charges for security deposits and non-refundable move-in fees, and the payment of se- Violations curity deposits and move-fees on an installment basis do not apply to a tenant who rents a housing unit in a is A violation of the Rental Agreement Regulation Ordi- single-family residence if the residence is the principal nance is subject to a citation in the amount of$500 for an initial violation and$1,000 for each subsequent violation occurring within five(5)years of the first vio- lation. Citations can be appealed to the City of Seattle Hearing Examiner. Violations also are subject to a No- tice of Violation after the issuance of two(2)citations. Tenant's Private Right of Action If a landlord attempts to enforce provisions of a rental agreement which are contrary to: