Housing (Tenant Rights)

SB 6139 requires landlords to accept checks (except for tenants with recent bounced checks) and provide receipts for cash or non-cash payments. It clarifies that partial rent payments made during an eviction case do not restart a lease, stop eviction proceedings, or change the five-day deadline for full payment. The bill directly affects tenants facing eviction and landlords handling rental payments in court disputes. Tenants must still pay the full rent amount by the court deadline to avoid eviction, regardless of partial payments.

SB 5678 creates a state task force to study Washington's residential landlord-tenant laws and imposes a 36-month moratorium on new local rental regulations. The task force, composed of landlords, tenants, housing advocates, and local government representatives, will examine issues like rent limits, evictions, security deposits, and tenant screening. Local governments (cities, towns, counties) cannot enact new rental rules during the moratorium period, which begins when the bill takes effect. The task force must report its recommendations to the legislature by July 2027, with the bill expiring in 2029.

HB 1088 creates a task force to study Washington's residential landlord-tenant laws and recommends updates, while imposing a 36-month moratorium on new local regulations governing rental relationships. The task force - composed of landlords, tenants, housing advocates, and local government representatives - will examine issues like rent limits, evictions, and security deposits, with recommendations due by July 2027. The moratorium prevents cities, towns, and counties from enacting new ordinances or policies regulating landlord-tenant matters for 36 months. This bill directly affects local governments, landlords, and tenants by halting new local rules during the study period. It aims to create a consistent state-level framework for housing regulations, addressing disparities caused by varying local ordinances.

SB 5661 creates statewide consistency in housing by preventing cities and counties from enacting local rent control or landlord-tenant regulations that conflict with Washington’s state law. It directly affects landlords, tenants, and local governments in areas like Seattle, King County, and Tacoma, which have previously imposed conflicting rules (e.g., requiring extra notices for criminal activity or mandating 30-day notices). The bill amends state law to explicitly state that cities and counties cannot regulate rent amounts or tenant agreements (except for low-income housing under specific joint public-private programs), overriding local ordinances. This aims to eliminate regulatory confusion, encourage rental housing investment, and support Washington’s goal of building 1.1 million new homes over 20 years.

SB 5250 creates a new process for Washington property owners to request immediate law enforcement removal of unauthorized occupants using a sworn declaration. The bill specifically expands coverage to include former tenants who no longer have valid rental agreements, requiring declarations that verify ownership, unlawful presence, prior eviction demands, and lack of tenancy within the past 12 months. Law enforcement must allow occupants to present evidence before removal, and false declarations expose property owners to civil liability for damages. This streamlines removal of squatters while adding safeguards against wrongful actions under existing trespass laws.

HB 1342 removes the requirement for landlords to personally deliver eviction notices (unlawful detainer notices) to tenants. Instead, landlords can now serve notices by affixing a copy to a conspicuous location on the property and sending a copy by mail to the tenant's residence. This change applies directly to tenants facing eviction in Washington state, simplifying service for landlords while requiring one additional day before an eviction action can begin if mail is used. The bill updates existing law (RCW 59.12.040) to allow this mail-and-posting method as an alternative to personal delivery or leaving notices with others on-site.