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Create and Download the Washington Residential Lease & Rental Agreement printable PDF for Landlords. This state-specific Lease is customizable and includes WA laws.

Document Last Modified: 12/28/2023

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Washington Residential Lease Agreement

If you rent real estate in Washington, you need a Lease Agreement that complies with all Washington state Lease Laws.

Our Washington Lease is guaranteed to comply with all state laws and is EZ to create

  1. Follow simple, user-friendly prompts to customize your Lease.
  2. You’ll get State Assist tips as you do that point out key state laws.
  3. All Washington-required terms, clauses, and addendums are automatically included.
  4. Just click a box to attach additional Addendums that your property needs - for example, a Pet Addendum, Grilling Addendum, or a Fireplace/Wood Burning Stove Addendum.
  5. Review and sign the Lease online with our electronic signing tool, ezSign.

Landlord-Tenant Laws

As a Landlord, it’s important to be familiar with the Landlord-Tenant laws in the state where your property is located.

That said, keep in mind that we automatically included all state-required language and terms in our Washington Lease Agreement. This means your Lease is guaranteed to comply with all Washington Landlord-Tenant Laws.

Just one more way we make things EZ for Landlords!

Category State Law
Ending and Renewing Periodic Lease: May be terminated by either party giving the other a written notice of at least 20 days before the end of the rental period. Fixed Term Lease: The tenancy generally terminates automatically on the last day of the lease period without any notice required from either party. However, the parties may agree within the lease that the tenant or landlord must give notice of an intent to either continue or end the tenancy.

Leases for a term that is longer than one (1) year need to be notarized by a notary public. Additionally, the lease must include an accurate and full legal description of the rental property in the lease.
Security Deposit Security Deposit Limitations There are no restrictions on the maximum amount that may be collected as a security deposit, however; The landlord must provide an inspection checklist signed by both parties stating the condition and cleanliness of the premises along with a written rental agreement. The landlord must place the deposit in a trust account in Washington and give the tenant a receipt indicating its location.

NON-REFUNDABLE FEES
If any amount is paid to the landlord as a non-refundable fee, the rental agreement shall be in writing and shall clearly specify that the fee is nonrefundable.
Returned Payment Fee Payee may collect a reasonable handling fee; when not paid within 15 days, a collection cost not to exceed $40 or amount of check, whichever is less and interest at 12% per year from date of dishonor. Wash. Rev. Code § 62A.3-515
Late Fee Any late fee charged by the owner shall be provided for in the rental agreement.
Insurance Requirements No Statute
Addenda & Disclosures Carbon Monoxide Detectors State law requires Carbon Monoxide alarms be installed in apartments, condominiums, hotels, motels and single-family residences.Washington CO Alarm Fact Sheet provides full information regarding Carbon Monoxide requirements.

Smoke Detectors The landlord or his or her authorized agent must provide a written notice to the tenant that the dwelling unit is equipped with a smoke detection device as required in 43.44.110. The notice shall inform the tenant of the responsibility to maintain the smoke detection device and of penalties for failure to comply with the provisions.
The notice must be signed by the landlord or the landlord's authorized agent and tenant with copies provided to both parties. Further, except with respect to a single-family residence, the written notice must also disclose the following:
(i) Whether the smoke detection device is hard-wired or battery-operated
(ii) Whether the building has a fire sprinkler system
(iii)Whether the building has a fire alarm system.
Notice to Enter Landlords must provide 2 days notice to enter leased premises for maintenance and repairs or 1 days notice to show property.
Landlord Requirements When there is a written rental agreement for the premises, the landlord shall provide an executed copy to each tenant who signs the rental agreement.

DISCLOSURE OF LANDLORD/AGENT INFORMATION REQUIRED The owner must provide the tenant with the name and address of the landlord written on the rental agreement or by a notice conspicuously posted on the premises.

If the person designated in this section does not reside in the state where the rental is located, there shall also be a designated person who resides in the county who is authorized to act as an agent for the purposes of service of notices and process. If no designation is made, then the person to whom rental payments are to be made shall be considered such agent.

RECEIPTS: A landlord shall provide a receipt for any payment made by a tenant in the form of cash. A landlord shall provide, upon the request of a tenant, written receipt for any payments made by the tenant in a form other than cash.

RENT INCREASE: New, July 2019, Landlords must provide a minimum of 60 days prior written notice of any increase in the amount of rent to each affected tenant. This increase cannot become effective prior to the completion of the term of the rental agreement.

SEATTLE: The Rental Agreement Regulation Ordinance, or RARO, requires that Seattle landlords give tenants 60 days written notice of any increase in housing costs of 10% or more in a 12 month period.

Contact your local housing or zoning office to be sure your rental property complies with city and county requirements for inspections, rent control, occupancy limits, property codes, and zoning. Many cities and counties require inspections and registrations and have specific maintenance regulations.

SEATTLE: As of 2014, all rental property owners in Seattle must register their properties with the City. Inspectors will make sure all registered properties comply with minimum housing and safety standards at least once every 10 years.


Pro Tip:Our Washington Lease Agreement is guaranteed to comply with all Washington Lease laws. This means one less thing for Landlords to worry about!.

Required Disclosures

Washington State requires that certain disclosures be included in the Lease Package.

Note: We automatically include all required disclosures in our Washing Lease Agreement.

  • Washington Fire and Safety Disclosure: When a Washington Lease Agreement is signed, the Landlord must provide the Tenant with a copy of a fire protection and safety information, including an evacuation plan (if the building has two or more units). This form should state whether the property has a smoking policy, describe any emergency notification plans, and state the routes to exit the building in case of a fire.
  • Landlord/Agent Identification: The Landlord must provide renters with the name of any person or persons authorized to enter the property. If the Landlord does not reside in Washington, the Landlord must name an agent that resides in the county where the property is located. The Landlord must also specify a legal address for all notices.
  • Lead-Based Paint Disclosure: Pursuant to federal law, if the rental property was built before 1978, the Landlord must provide Tenants with a lead-based paint disclosure.
  • Washington Mold Pamphlet: At the time of the Lease signing, the Landlord must provide Tenants with information about the dangers of mold, as provided by the health department.
  • Move-in Checklist: If the Landlord collects a security deposit, the Landlord must provide the Tenant with a move-in checklist.

Pro Tip:If no checklist is provided, the Tenant is entitled to the entire security deposit, regardless of the circumstances.

  • Security Deposit Receipt: Landlords must provide Tenants with a security deposit receipt that includes the name and address of the banking institution where funds are being held as well as the terms and conditions for how funds will be dispersed.
  • Smoke Detector Disclosure: The Landlord or his or her authorized agent must provide a written notice to the occupants that the dwelling unit is equipped with a smoke detection device as required in 43.44.110. The notice shall inform the Tenant of the responsibility to maintain the smoke detection device and of penalties for failure to comply with the provisions.

    The notice must be signed by the Landlord or the Landlord's authorized agent and occupants with copies provided to both parties. Further, except with respect to a single-family residence, the written notice must also disclose the following:
    1. Whether the smoke detection device is hard-wired or battery-operated
    2. Whether the building has a fire sprinkler system
    3. Whether the building has a fire alarm system.

  • SEATTLE ONLY: The Landlord must provide all Tenants with a voter registration packet.
  • SEATTLE ONLY: The Summary of State and City of Seattle Landlord/Tenant Regulations must be provided to Seattle Tenants on at least an annual basis.

Landlord Tenant Law in Washington

FAQs

Do Lease Agreements need to be notarized in Washington State?
Lease Agreements for a term of one year or less do not need to be notarized. However, for Lease terms of over one year to be recognized, the Lease must be notarized. If it’s not, the Lease isn’t void, it’s just recognized as a month-to-month agreement and the validity of the Lease term is questioned.

What are the Landlord-Tenant laws in Washington State?
Washington state has a number of unique and state-specific Landlord laws. You can review some of the key ones in this pamphlet.

Is a 2-year Lease legal in Washington State?
Yes, a two-year Lease is legal; however, for the Lease term to be valid, the Lease must be notarized. If a Lease exceeds two years, it must be recorded in the office of the county recorder where the property is located.

Generally, the standard Lease term is one year. However, month-to-month Leases, short-term Leases, and even Vacation Lease Agreements are all recognized in Washington. The length of the Lease term can vary as long as it’s properly specified in the Lease Agreement.

How do I write a Rental Agreement?
A Rental Contract or Rental Agreement needs to contain all terms under which a Tenant, or lessee, rents property from the Landlord, or lessor. It should include key terms like rent amount, Lease term, late fee policies, and pet policies. However, it should also include any other relevant terms or rules - for example, requirements for renters insurance, subletting policies, guest policies, and maintenance responsibilities. Plus, it must contain all state-required terms, clauses, and addendums.

Drafting your own Lease Agreement is not easy and can leave you without the protection that you need. There are some free, generic Lease Agreements available online as well as fillable, blank Lease forms like the one offered by the Washington Association of Realtors. While these might be better than simply writing a contract yourself, they still won’t provide you with the full protection that comes from a state-specific, customizable Lease Package.

How do you store a Lease Agreement?
Once your Lease is signed, it’s automatically saved securely on the cloud with our ezCloudStorage. It’s also EZ to print or download and save as a PDF. There’s an option that works for all Landlords, but most of our customers appreciate the ease and security that comes with ezCloudStorage.

Do I need a Lease Agreement in Washington?
Yes. Anyone that rents real estate in Washington should have a Lease agreement to protect their property. If problems arise with the Tenant, it’s the Lease that protects the Landlord. No matter what type of real estate you’re renting - whether it’s an apartment, duplex, single-family home, or condo - it’s always a good idea to have a signed Lease in place before you hand over legal possession.

And, while a basic or generic Lease will provide you with some protection, it won’t give you the complete protection that comes with a comprehensive state-specific Lease. After all, if Tenants break the Lease or damage your property, it’s essential to have a strong Lease in place to protect you.

Washington Rental Forms and Templates

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Other State Lease Agreements

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