Washington Residential Rent and Fee Increase Notice

Washington Residential Rent and Fee Increase Notice

Complete the verification record, then serve a notice substantially the same as the statutory form below. Do not use this form for a manufactured/mobile-home lot governed by chapter 59.20 RCW.

1. Verification Record

• Tenancy began: [__/__/____]; first 12 months completed: ☐ Yes
• Last increase date: [__/__/____]; no other increase in this 12-month period: ☐ Confirmed
• Lease/rental agreement term ends: [__/__/____]
• At least 90 days' prior written notice under RCW 59.18.140(3): ☐ Yes
• Current Department of Commerce maximum for effective year: [____]%
• Proposed total increase in rent and recurring/periodic occupancy charges: [____]%
• Increase is within RCW 59.18.700 limit or supported by a current § 59.18.710 exemption: ☐ Yes
• Local, subsidized-housing, and fair-housing review completed: ☐ Yes
• Service method complies with RCW 59.12.040: ☐ Yes

2. Statutory Notice Form

TO TENANT(S): [________________________________]

AT ADDRESS: [________________________________]

RENT AND FEE INCREASE NOTICE TO TENANTS

This notice is required by Washington state law to inform you of your rights regarding rent and fee increases. Your rent or rental amount includes all recurring and periodic charges, sometimes referred to as rent and fees, identified in your rental agreement for the use and occupancy of your rental unit. Washington state limits how much your landlord can raise your rent and any other recurring or periodic charges for the use and occupancy of your rental unit.

1. Your landlord can raise your rent and any other recurring or periodic charges identified in the rental agreement for use and occupancy of your rental unit once every 12 months by up to seven percent plus consumer price index, or 10 percent, whichever is less, as allowed by RCW 59.18.700. Your landlord is not required to raise the rent or other recurring or periodic charges by any amount.

2. Your landlord may be exempt from the limit on increases for rent and other recurring or periodic charges for the reasons described in RCW 59.18.710. If your landlord claims an exemption, your landlord is required to include supporting facts with this notice.

Your landlord [LANDLORD NAME] intends to:

• ☐ Raise your rent and/or other recurring or periodic charges. Your total increase effective [DATE] will be [____]%, which totals an additional $[________] per month, for a new total amount of $[________] per month.

This increase is:

• ☐ Lower than the maximum allowed by state law.
• ☐ The maximum increase allowed by state law.
• ☐ Authorized by an exemption under RCW 59.18.710. Complete the exemption section below.

EXEMPTIONS CLAIMED BY LANDLORD

I, [LANDLORD NAME], certify that Washington law allows an increase of [____]%, above the otherwise applicable maximum, because I claim:

• ☐ The first certificate of occupancy for the dwelling unit was issued on [DATE], 12 or fewer years before this notice. Supporting facts/documents are attached.
• ☐ The unit is owned by a public housing authority, public development authority, or nonprofit organization and maximum rents are regulated by other affordable-housing requirements, or it is a qualified low-income housing development under RCW 82.45.010 owned by such an entity. Supporting facts/documents are attached.
• ☐ The unit is in a qualified low-income housing development allocated federal low-income housing tax credits by the Washington State Housing Finance Commission with an enforceable regulatory agreement. Supporting facts/documents are attached.
• ☐ The tenant shares a bathroom or kitchen with the owner, who maintains a principal residence at the property. Supporting facts/documents are attached.
• ☐ The unit is in a single-family owner-occupied residence where the owner-occupant rents no more than two units or bedrooms, including an attached or detached accessory dwelling unit. Supporting facts/documents are attached.
• ☐ The unit is in a duplex, triplex, or fourplex where the owner occupied one unit as a principal residence at the beginning of the tenancy and continues in occupancy. Supporting facts/documents are attached.

Landlord/authorized agent signature: [________________________________] Date: [__/__/____]

3. Service Record

• Method authorized by RCW 59.12.040: [________________________________]
• Person/address served: [________________________________]
• Date/time served: [________________________________]
• Proof/tracking/witness: [________________________________]
• Copy and supporting exemption documents retained: ☐ Yes

Sources and References

• 42 U.S.C. § 3604 — https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:42%20section:3604%20edition:prelim)
• RCW 59.18.140 — https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=59.18.140
• RCW 59.18.700 — https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=59.18.700
• RCW 59.18.710 — https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=59.18.710
• RCW 59.18.720 — https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=59.18.720
• RCW 59.12.040 — https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=59.12.040