Washington Rent Increase Laws

60 days before the end of a year-long lease, a landlord sends the tenant a notice that rent will increase by 9.5% if they choose to renew the lease.

When Can’t a Landlord Raise Rent in Washington?

Landlords in Washington may not raise the rent if:

• It is done in response to a protected tenant action, such as submitting a notice of defect. This is known as “ retaliation. ” An action is considered retaliatory if it occurs within 90 days [3] of the tenant action.
• It is during the middle of a lease’s fixed term (unless stated otherwise in the lease agreement).
• The increase is applied in a way that discriminates against one of the protected classes specified in the Fair Housing Act .

In addition to the characteristics above, Seattle’s Fair Chance Housing law also prohibits discrimination [4] due to:

• Immigration status
• Political ideology
• Military or veteran status
• Participation in Section 8 or other subsidy programs
• Alternative source of income

How Often Can Rent Be Increased in Washington?

Landlords in Washington can increase the rent as often as they choose as long as they provide sufficient notice each time.

How Much Notice is Needed to Raise Rent in Washington?

Washington law prohibits landlords from increasing rent during a lease term [5] and requires that landlords give 60 days’ notice [6] before increasing rent. For subsidized housing, landlords are only required to provide 30 days’ notice [7] . However, city laws may require a larger amount of notice.

Seattle law requires that landlords give 180 days’ notice for new leases after November 8, 2021 [8] . For subsidized housing, the state’s 30-day notice period still applies. [9] .

Landlords do not need to provide a reason for the rent increase on the notice letter. When the tenant receives the notice, they may choose to enter a new lease at a higher rate or move out.

How Much Can a Landlord Raise Rent in Washington?

In Washington, landlords can raise the rent by any amount. There is no legal limit or cap on the amount of a rent increase. However, some cities may enact certain rules for rent increases.

In Seattle, if a landlord increases rent by more than 10%, the tenant is entitled to request three times the monthly rent [10] to cover moving costs [11] .

Sources

No city or town of any class may enact, maintain, or enforce ordinances or other provisions which regulate the amount of rent to be charged…

No county may enact, maintain or enforce ordinances or other provisions which regulate the amount of rent…

Initiation by the landlord of any action listed in RCW 59.18.240 within ninety days after a good faith and lawful act by the tenant…the action is a reprisal or retaliatory action against the tenant.

…it is illegal in The City of Seattle to discriminate against any person because of…political ideology, honorably discharged veteran or military status, participation in a Section 8 or other subsidy program, alternative source of income…

…any increase in the amount of rent may not become effective prior to the completion of the term of the rental agreement.

…a landlord shall provide a minimum of sixty days’ prior written notice of an increase in the amount of rent to each affected tenant…

If the rental agreement governs a subsidized tenancy…a landlord shall provide a minimum of thirty days’ prior written notice of an increase in the amount of rent to each affected tenant.

Any rental agreement or renewal of a rental agreement for a residential rental unit in The City of Seattle entered into after November 8, 2021 shall include or shall be deemed to include a provision requiring at least 180 days’ prior written notice whenever the periodic or monthly housing costs to be charged a tenant are to increase…

…for a subsidized tenancy…the rental agreement shall instead provide at least 30 days’ prior written notice of an increase in the amount of rent to each affected tenant.

The Director shall calculate the amount of economic displacement relocation assistance, if any, to which the household representative is entitled. To calculate that amount…Multiply the average monthly housing costs per household by three.

The owner shall pay to the Director the amount of assistance, if any, identified in the Director’s notice described in subsection 22.212.040.E within seven days after the owner receives the notice.