Listing of self-help materials and informational publications.
There are 19 resources
General information
Your Rights as a Tenant in Washington This publication was written to help residential tenants and landlords in Washington understand their rights and responsibilities.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Read this in:
Russian / Pусский
,
Spanish / Español
Basic Information for Tenants
(Separate Website)
Just as important as knowing the law is knowing how to use it to protect yourself as a renter. With a few exceptions, landlord-tenant laws are considered "self help?" it is up to individual tenants to get their rights enforced. You cannot call the police if your landlord has refused to return your deposit or is unwilling to make a repair.
By: Solid Ground
Your Rights - the Tenants Union Help Center
(Separate Website)
Information on tenant's rights, housing discrimination, rent increases, breaking your lease, etc.
By: Tenants Union
Rental Agreements
(Separate Website)
Lots of information about the different types of rental agreements, the law and breaking a rental agreement.
By: Solid Ground
My Landlord Locked Me Out: What Can I Do? Read this publication if you rent an apartment or house and your landlord changed the locks so that you cannot get into your place and you had no plans to move.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Other Formats:
DOCX File
Federal Law Requires 90 Days Notice Prior to Eviction of any Tenant Living in a Foreclosed Property
If you rent your home, and your home was sold at a foreclosure sale, federal law requires the new owner to notify you at least 90 days before evicting you. You must still honor the obligations of your lease or rental agreement during this time period.
By: Columbia Legal Services
Other Formats:
PDF File
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Domestic Violence and Your Housing Rights
(Separate Website)
Survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking have protections under the Washington Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (RCW 59.18).
By: King County Office of Civil Rights
Read this in:
Cambodian / Khmer
,
Russian / Pусский
,
Spanish / Español
,
Vietnamese / Tiếng Việt
Deposits
(Separate Website)
General information about the rental deposit process and links to applicable laws and related resources.
By: Solid Ground
Letter to Landlord for Return of a Security Deposit - Interactive Interview
This online interview provides a completed demand letter for return of a rental security deposit in Washington State. Use this program if you did not receive or only partially received a refund of your rental security deposit from a previous landlord and wish to send a demand letter requesting that it be returned to you.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Can I Get My Security Deposit Back?
6370EN - This publication gives step-by-step instructions on how to prepare to get your security deposit back and what to do if your landlord does not return your deposit.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Other Formats:
PDF File
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Tenants: What to do If Your Rental Needs Repairs This publication provides information on a landlord's responsibility to make repairs and what you can do to enforce your right to live in a safe home.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Tenant Services: Repairs
(Separate Website)
State law outlines landlords' obligations to keep your unit safe and livable. Landlords must also maintain their units to comply with all local codes that govern housing quality.
By: Solid Ground
Housing Search
(Separate Website)
Information about how to prepare for a housing search and links to sites that list available housing units.
By: Solid Ground
HUD Subsidized Apartment Finder
(Separate Website)
A search web site to find available subsidized apartments in Washington state.
By: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Search for Commission Financed Properties
(Separate Website)
The following pages of multifamily rental properties received Tax Credit and/or Tax-Exempt Bond financing from the Commission and are monitored by the Compliance and Preservation Division. If you would like to find out more about properties that are still being built, rehabilitated, or that are just renting up, please see Tax Credit Lists or the Capital Projects Multifamily Housing Lists.
By: Washington State Housing Finance Commission
Landlord/Tenant Issues For Survivors of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and/or Stalking Tenants who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking now have increased protection under the Residential Landlord Tenant Act (RLTA). The RLTA is found in the Revised Code of Washington (RCW 59.18). The law applies only to the rental of residential premises such as an apartment or house, or where both the mobile home and the space are rented in a mobile home park.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Mediation: Should I Use It?
(Separate Website)
3226EN - Mediation is an informal way to resolve disputes without going to court. The parties attempt to negotiate a mutually agreeable settlement with the help of a neutral mediator. Mediation can be used in many types of disputes.
By: Legal Voice
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Rules, Policies and Publications for Landlords
(Separate Website)
Here you will find resources on rules, ordinances, fair housing, public accomodations, disability rights and other considerations for landlords and property managers.
By: Seattle Office for Civil Rights
Adobe Acrobat Reader required. (If you are using a screen reader that does not support PDF format, copy the PDF link, and use the Access Adobe online form to convert this file to HMTL text.)
Information, Not Legal Advice. We are providing this information as a public service. We try to make it accurate as of the date noted in the materials. Sometimes the laws change. We cannot promise that this information is always up-to-date and correct. Most of the information provided on this web site is specific to Washington State law.
We do not intend this information to be legal advice. By providing this information, we are not acting as your lawyer. If you need legal advice, you should contact a lawyer through your local legal aid organization. Always talk to a competent lawyer, if you can, before taking legal action.
Permission for copying and distribution granted to the Alliance for Equal Justice and individuals for non-commercial use only.
Lawyer Advertising. This web site is not intended to be advertising or solicitation. The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based on advertisements. Before hiring an attorney, you should investigate his or her reputation and qualifications.
Links. Some of the items listed here have not been prepared by us, but are instead "links" to information prepared and posted by others. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of information posted on other sites. The links are not intended to imply that we sponsor or are affiliated or associated with the persons who created those sites, nor are the links intended to imply that we are legally authorized to use any trade name, registered trademark, logo, legal or official seal, or copyrighted symbol that may be reflected in the links.
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Washington LawHelp is provided as a public service by the Northwest Justice Project in collaboration with other legal aid providers in the Alliance for Equal Justice and Washington courts.
