Coast Property Management 8/3/2020

Page 8 of 15 Information for Tenants landlord to court. If the Hearing Examiner or court • Tenants who are employed by the landlord,when rules in favor of the tenant, the landlord could be their agreement specifies that they can only live in required to pay a penalty. the rental unit as long as they hold the job(such as an apartment house manager). 6. Rental Registration and Inspection Ordinance • Tenants who are leasing a single family dwelling (RRIO) for one year or more,when their attorney has The purpose of the Rental Registration and Inspec- approved the exemption. tion program is to ensure that all rental housing in • Tenants who are using the property for commer the City of Seattle is safe and meets basic housing cial rather than residential purposes. maintenance requirements. Beginning in 2014 all owners of residential housing in Seattle,with certain RIGHTS OF ALL TENANTS limited exceptions, must register their properties with Regardless of whether they are covered by the Resi- the City. A registration is good for five years. No dential Landlord-Tenant Act, all renters have these tenant can be evicted from a property if the property basic rights under other state laws:the Right to a is not registered with the City. With a few exceptions, livable dwelling; Protection from unlawful discrimina- all properties must be inspected at least once every tion; Right to hold the landlord liable for personal ten years. These inspections can be conducted by injury or property damage caused by the landlord's City-approved inspectors or by City housing/zoning negligence; Protection against lockouts and seizure of inspectors. Information about the RRIO Program can personal property by the landlord. be obtained by calling (206)684-4110 or going to the program website at www.seattle.gov/RRIO. TYPES OF RENTAL AGREEMENTS Month-to-Month Agreement.This agreement is for The Washington Residential an indefinite period of time,with rent usually payable Landlord-Tenant Act on a monthly basis or other short term period.The agreement itself can be in writing or oral, but if any type of fee or refundable deposit is collected,the Chapter 59.18 RCW. agreement must be in writing. [RCW 59.18.260] GOOD FAITH OBLIGATION State law requires landlords and tenants to act in A month-to-month agreement continues until the ten- good faith toward one another. ant gives the landlord written notice at least 20 days before the end of the rental period. In the situation Most tenants who rent a place to live come under the of a conversion to a condominium or a change in the Washington State Residential Landlord-Tenant Act. policy excluding children the landlord must provide However,certain renters are specifically excluded 90 days written notice to the tenant. [RCW 59.18.200] from the law. The rent can be increased or the rules changed at any time, provided the landlord gives the tenant written Residents who are generally not covered by the Act are: notice at least 30 days before the effective date of the • Renters of a space in a mobile home park are rent increase or rule change. [RCW 59.18.140] usually covered by the state's Mobile Home Land- Fixed Term Lease. A lease requires the tenant to stay lord-Tenant Act(RCW 59.20). However, renters for a specific amount of time and restricts the landlord's of both a space and a mobile home are usually ability to change the terms of the rental agreement. A covered by the residential law. lease must be in writingto be valid. Duringthe term of • Residents in transient lodgings such as hotels the lease,the rent cannot be raised or the rules changed and motels; residents of public or private medical, unless both landlord and tenant agree. Leases for longer religious,educational,recreational or correctional in- than one year must be notarized. stitutions; residents of a single family dwelling which is rented as part of a lease of agricultural land; resi- ILLEGAL DISCRIMINATION dents of housing provided for seasonal farm work. • Tenants with an earnest money agreement to pur- Federal law prohibits most landlords from refusing chase the dwelling. Tenants who lease a single to rent to a person or imposing different rental terms family dwelling with an option to purchase, if the on a person because of race, color, religion, sex, tenant's attorney has approved the face of the handicap,familial status(having children or seeking lease. Tenants who have signed a lease option custody of children), or national origin. [Fair Housing agreement but have not yet exercised that option Act 42 USC s.3601 et.seq. 1988] State law recog- are still covered. ii