Oftentimes, landlords require income verification from prospective tenants to better understand tenants’ financial circumstances and ability to make monthly rent payments. If you require such information from tenants, you should carefully review the new statewide “Source of Income” law (RCW 59.18.255) that becomes effective September 30, 2018. This new regulation includes guidelines and prohibitions for landlords when a prospective tenants’ source and amount of income is requested.

In October 2017, the Washington State Court of Appeals, Division 2 ruled on the proper procedures for a tenant to temporarily halt an eviction. The case was Randy Reynolds & Associates, Inc. v. Harmon, 1 Wn. App. 2d 239, 404 P.3d 602 (2017).

Landlords in Seattle recently received notice that a new city ordinance, the Rental Registration and Inspection Ordinance, has been approved which will require landlords to provide voter registration information to prospective and current tenants.

The Seattle City Council has approved an ordinance which will prevent landlords from screening tenants based on their criminal history. 

Even the simplest eviction can be an expensive, time consuming and draining endeavor for a landlord….but what happens when a tenant files for bankruptcy?

City of Seattle Ordinance No. 125222 went into effect on January 16, 2017 , and introduced important amendments to the City’s Rental Agreement Regulation Ordinance governing landlord/tenant relationships within the City of Seattle.