Seattle Tenant Laws.pdf

Obligations of Landlords:

Provide safe, clean, secure living conditions
Control insects, rodents, and other pests
Maintain roof, walls, foundation, and weather-tight units
Maintain electrical, plumbing, heating, and other equipment
Provide adequate garbage containers and arrange for pickup
Maintain heat in rental units (65°F daytime, 58°F nighttime)
Install smoke detectors and instruct tenants on maintenance
Provide keys to unit and building entrance doors

Obligations of Tenants:

Maintain rental housing in a safe, clean manner
Properly dispose of garbage
Exercise care in using electrical and plumbing fixtures
Promptly repair damage caused by themselves or guests
Grant reasonable access for inspection, maintenance, and repair
Maintain smoke detectors in good working order
Refrain from storing dangerous materials on premises

The Just Cause Eviction Ordinance:

Requires landlords to have good cause to terminate a month-to-month tenancy
Specifies reasons for termination, including:
1. Failure to pay rent within 3 days of notice
2. Overdue rent notices (4 times in 12 months)
3. Non-compliance with lease or rental agreement terms
4. Non-compliance with Washington State Residential Landlord-Tenant Act
5. Serious damage to rental unit or nuisance
6. Criminal activity on premises
7. Owner wishes to occupy premises personally or with immediate family
8. Owner wishes to terminate a tenant living in the same unit or approved accessory dwelling unit (ADU)

Washington State Law:

Rights of all tenants
Types of rental agreements
Illegal discrimination
Liability
Illegal provisions in rental agreements
Privacy and landlord's access to rental
Deposits and other fees
Landlord's responsibilities
Tenant's responsibilities
Threatening behavior by tenant or landlord
Making changes to month-to-month agreements and leases
Handling repairs
Illegal landlord actions
Ending the agreement
Return of deposits
Evictions
Abandonment