Commercial leases can be lengthy, complicated and full of unfamiliar terms. Often, landlords and or tenants are reluctant to incur the cost required for their attorney to complete a detailed review of the lease because the monthly lease payment is small or they are under a time crunch. The aggregate cost of a lease is often very substantial, however. Through years of experience doing commercial lease work on a daily basis we have discerned the following key tips...

Under Seattle Municipal Code (SMC) Chapter 22.214, Seattle landlords are required to register their rental properties with the City of Seattle. The RRIO has been in place since 2014, however, the deadlines for registration have been implemented over time based on the different area codes within the City of Seattle.

As landlords in Washington State are well aware, the Landlord-Tenant Act (RCW 59.18 et seq.) and Seattle Just-Cause Eviction Ordinance (SMC 22.206 et seq.) are heavily weighted in favor of tenants’ rights. These laws have created a daunting and oft confusing legal process for landlords to navigate when an eviction becomes necessary. The first step in evicting a tenant is to place the tenant on notice that they are in default of their lease.  The type of default and issues surrounding the tenancy will dictate the type of notice a landlord is required to serve.

A February 2012 Washington State Supreme Court decision, Snohomish County Public Transportation Benefit Area Corp. v. First Group America, Inc., clarified how Washington courts are to interpret indemnification clauses. The facts of the case are interesting and the ruling provides a tie in to our daily work since indemnification clauses often arise in lease and purchase and sale negotiations.

Recently, the Washington State legislature passed SB 6315 which affects the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (RCW 59.18 et seq.).The changes to the law went into effect on June 7, 2012, and imposes new notice requirements on Washington residential landlords.