In Seattle Municipal Code 22.206.180 (Prohibited acts by owners) under bullet H., landlords operating properties must adhere to the following rules when increasing rent:
"Increase the periodic or monthly housing costs to be charged a tenant without giving the tenant at least 180 days prior written notice of the cost increase, except that for a subsidized tenancy where the amount of rent is based on the income of the tenant or circumstances specific to the subsidized household, the owner shall instead provide at least 30 days' prior written notice of an increase in the amount of rent to each affected tenant. The notice shall describe how the tenant may obtain information about the rights and obligations of tenants and landlords under this Chapter 22.206; or"
Even though your rental property address states "Seattle," your rental property may not be located in the Seattle City Limits, and would therefore not be subject to Seattle-specific laws. You can verify whether or not your property is in the Seattle City Limits by visiting the King County Assessor Parcel Viewer.
If your property is located within Seattle City Limits, you must have a current RRIO rental business license registered with the Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections (SDCI) when increasing the rent. If you don't have a current RRIO rental business license, your rent increase will not be enforceable in court.
Under Spokane Municipal Code 10.57.160 (Minimum Notice to Increase Rent), landlords operating properties within the Spokane City Limits must adhere to the following rules when increasing rent:
A landlord may not increase residential rent except in accordance with this section.
Under Tacoma Municipal Code 1.100.050, landlords operating properties within the Tacoma City Limits must adhere to the following rules when increasing rent:
"1.100.050 Section 5. Landlords must give advanced notice of rent increases and pay relocation assistance when significant rent increases require tenants to relocate.
1. As a precondition to raising rent, a landlord must provide the tenant with two notices of the rent increase. The first notice must be provided between 210 and 180 days before the rent increase is to take effect. A second reminder notice must be provided between 120 and 90 days before the rent increase is to take effect.
2. The notice shall be in a form established by the City of Tacoma, which must include the actual dollar amount of the new rent or rent increase, a description of the rental relocation assistance program and how the relocation assistance payment will be calculated, if applicable, and must be served in accordance with RCW 59.12.040.
3. This section shall not apply to an administrator of a rental subsidy when the administrator is notifying the tenant of a change in the tenant’s portion of the total rent and the remaining portion of the rent is paid by subsidy such as a housing voucher.
4. At any time after receiving the 180-day notice of a rent increase of 5% or more, a tenant deciding to relocate rather than paying the rent increase may send the landlord a request for relocation assistance. Within 30 days of receiving such request, landlords must pay the relocation assistance to tenant. Payment of relocation assistance shall be per dwelling unit, not per person, and shall be split evenly among all the tenants.
5. The tenant relocation assistance amounts shall be equal to two months of rent. However, if the notified rent increase is over 7.5%, the relocation assistance shall be equal to two and a half months of rent, and if the notified rent increase is over 10%, the relocation assistance shall be equal to three months of rent. This scale is adopted in recognition of the additional time required to find replacement housing when a tenant’s current rent is below market rate. Tenant relocation assistance shall be calculated based upon the rent in effect at the time of the 180-day notice.
6. Landlords shall provide copies of the request for relocation assistance and confirmation of payment to the Landlord-Tenant Coordinator or other city designated official.
7. In the event that the tenant is unable to relocate and remains in the dwelling unit at the increased rent, the tenant must repay the relocation assistance.
8. The requirement to pay tenant relocation assistance will not apply to:
(a) a landlord and tenant living on the same site if the site has four or fewer dwelling units;
(b) tenants who have lived in the dwelling unit for less than six months;
(c) a landlord that temporarily rents out the landlord’s principal residence during the landlord’s absence due to active duty military service.
(City of Tacoma Initiative Measure No. 1; General Election Nov. 7, 2023)"
Even though your rental property address states "Tacoma," your rental property may not be located in the Tacoma City Limits, and would therefore not be subject to Tacoma-specific laws. When serving a notice to increase rent in Tacoma, housing providers must use the City-mandated form as well as the state-mandated form from HB 1217.
If your property is located within Tacoma City Limits, you must have a current rental business license when increasing the rent. If you don't have a current rental business license, your rent increase may be void.
Rental properties located in the Tacoma City Limits must serve additional resources along with any notice of rent increase.
Under Olympia Municipal Code 5.82.030 (Rent Increase Notification; Tenant’s Right to Terminate Tenancy), landlords operating properties within the Olympia City Limits must adhere to the following rules when increasing rent:
A. A landlord may not increase a tenant’s rent by more than five percent of the rent unless the landlord has provided the tenant with notice of the rent increase at least 120 days before such increase takes effect.
B. A landlord may not increase a tenant’s rent if such rent increase, together with any other rent increase in the preceding 12 months, totals seven percent or more unless the landlord has provided the tenant with notice of the rent increase at least 120 days before such increase takes effect. A tenant’s rent is considered to have increased seven percent or more for purposes of this section if it has increased by seven percent or more of the amount of the tenant’s rent in effect 12 months prior to the effective date of the rent increase (for example, if a landlord notifies a tenant of a rent increase effective July 1 of the current year, and such rent increase, together with any other rent increases since July 1 of the previous year, is seven percent or more of the tenant’s rent as of July 1 of the previous year).
C. A landlord may not increase the rent of a tenant by 10 percent or more of the rent unless the landlord has provided the tenant with notice of the rent increase at least 180 days before such increase takes effect.
D. Pursuant to RCW 59.18.140, if the rental agreement governs a subsidized tenancy where the amount of rent is based on the income of the tenant or circumstances specific to the subsidized household, a landlord shall provide a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of an increase in the amount of rent to each affected tenant.
E. Any notice of a rent increase required by this section must be served in accordance with RCW 59.12.040. Notice of any rental increase of five percent or less may be served in accordance with RCW 59.12.040.
F. If a landlord gives notice of intent to increase the amount of rent by more than five percent, the tenant may terminate the tenancy at any point prior to the effective date of the increase by providing at least 30 days’ written notice and should the tenant so terminate the tenancy, the tenant only owes prorated rent through the date when the tenant vacates the rental unit. A landlord may not charge a tenant any fines or fees for terminating a rental agreement under this subsection.
G. Any notice of rent increase required by this section must state, in clear language, that because the landlord seeks to increase the rent paid by the tenant by more than five percent, the tenant may terminate the tenancy at any point prior to the effective date of the increase by providing at least 30 days’ written notice and, should the tenant so terminate the tenancy, the tenant only owes prorated rent through the date when the tenant vacates the rental unit.
H. The increase notice required by OMC 5.82.030(A), (B), and (C) must specify:
1. The amount of the increase;
2. The total amount of the new rent;
3. The date the increase becomes effective;
4. The rationale for the rent increase; and
5. The rights of tenants under the Economic Displacement Relocation Assistance program under OMC 5.82.040, including:
a. A statement of the right of the tenant to request economic displacement relocation assistance in writing within 45 days of receipt of an increase notice. If the rent increase, together with any other rent increase in the preceding 12 months, totals seven percent or more, and that should a tenant so request, the landlord must, within 31 calendar days of receiving a request from the tenant, pay the tenant relocation assistance equivalent to two and half times the tenant’s monthly rent (i.e. two and half months’ rent).
b. A statement that if the tenant receives timely relocation assistance as provided for under OMC 5.82.040, the tenant may relocate at any time during the remainder of the tenancy prior to the effective date of the rent increase, if the tenant provides at least 30 days’ written notice and pay prorated rent until they vacate the unit.
c. A statement that if the tenant remains in the rental unit until the effective date of the rent increase, the tenant is obligated to pay the increased rent in accordance with the increase notice for the duration of the tenant’s occupancy of the rental unit and to repay any relocation assistance provided to the tenant.
Under Bellingham Municipal Code 6.14.020 (Notice of rental increase and right to economic displacement relocation assistance), landlords operating properties within the Bellingham City Limits must adhere to the following rules when increasing rent:
A. As allowed by this chapter, if a landlord increases a tenant’s rent or associated housing costs by eight percent or more over a rolling 12-month period, the landlord shall deliver an increase notice in a manner consistent with RCW 59.12.040 to each affected tenant:
1. At least 120 days prior to the effective date of the rent increase; or
2. The time period designated in the rental agreement, whichever is longer.
B. The increase notice must specify:
1. The amount of the increase;
2. The total amount of the new rent or associated housing costs;
3. The date when the increase becomes effective;
4. A rationale for the rent increase;
5. The total amount of relocation assistance available under this chapter to tenants of the unit upon displacement; and
6. The rights of tenants under this chapter, including:
a. A statement of the right of the tenant to request economic displacement relocation assistance within 45 days of receipt of the increase notice;
b. A statement that if the tenant receives timely relocation assistance as provided for under this chapter, the tenant shall have a relocation period of five months from the date of the receipt of the relocation assistance; and
c. A statement that at the conclusion of this relocation period, if the tenant remains in the dwelling unit, the tenant shall be obligated to pay the increased rent in accordance with the increase notice for the duration of the tenant’s occupancy of the dwelling unit and to repay the relocation assistance.
C. If, within 45 calendar days after each tenant receives an increase notice indicating a rent increase of eight percent or more within a rolling 12-month period, the tenant may provide a request for relocation assistance to the landlord.
1. Within 31 calendar days of receiving the request for relocation assistance, the landlord shall pay to the tenants relocation assistance equivalent to:
a. Either a sum equalling three times the current fair market monthly rent for Bellingham, Washington, as defined by HUD Office of Policy Development and Research for an apartment of the same size; or
b. Three times the tenant’s existing monthly rent, whichever is larger.
2. The requirements of this subsection apply per dwelling unit, not per individual tenant. [Initiative No. 2023-02, § 2, approved by voters at the 11/07/23 election, certified 11/28/23].
Under Issaquah Municipal Code 5.52.030 (Notice of rent increase), rental properties located within Issaquah City Limits are subject to the following additional restrictions when increasing rent:
A. Any rental agreement or renewal of a rental agreement shall state the dollar amount of the rent or rent increase and include, or shall be deemed to include, a provision requiring not less than 120 days’ written notice for rent increases greater than 3 percent.
B. If the rental agreement governs subsidized housing where the amount of rent is based on the income of the tenant or circumstances specific to the subsidized household, the landlord shall provide a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of an increase in the amount of rent to each affected tenant. (Ord. 2986 § 2, 2022).
Under Kirkland Municipal Code 7.75.030 (Notice of rent increase), rental properties located within Kirkland City Limits are subject to the following additional restrictions when increasing rent:
(a) Any rental agreement or renewal of a rental agreement shall state the dollar amount of the rent or rent increase and include, or shall be deemed to include, a provision requiring not less than:
(1) One hundred twenty days’ written notice for rent increases greater than three percent; or
(2) One hundred eighty days’ written notice for rent increases greater than ten percent.
(b) If the rental agreement governs subsidized housing where the amount of rent is based on the income of the tenant or circumstances specific to the subsidized household, the landlord shall provide a minimum of thirty days’ prior written notice of an increase in the amount of rent to each affected tenant.
(c) The notice of rent increases in subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall include the actual dollar amount of the new rent or rent increase. (Ord. 4810 § 2, 2022)
Under Redmond Municipal Court 9.54.030 (Notice of rent increase), rental properties located within Redmond City Limits are subject to the following additional restrictions when increasing rent:
A. Any rental agreement or renewal of a rental agreement shall state the dollar amount of the rent or rent increase and include, or shall be deemed to include, a provision requiring not less than:
1. One hundred twenty (120) days’ written notice for rent increases greater than three percent; or
2. One hundred eighty (180) days’ written notice for rent increases greater than 10 percent.
B. If the rental agreement governs subsidized housing where the amount of rent is based on the income of the tenant or circumstances specific to the subsidized household, the landlord shall provide a minimum of thirty (30) days’ prior written notice of an increase in the amount of rent to each affected tenant. (Ord. 3091 § 2, 2022).
Under Tumwater Municipal Code 5.75.070 (Notice to increase rent requirements), rental properties located within Tumwater City Limits are subject to the following additional restrictions when increasing rent:
A. Special Circumstances.
1. A landlord is required to provide a minimum of one hundred and twenty days’ prior written notice whenever the periodic or monthly housing costs to be charged a tenant will increase by more than five percent of the rent over the periodic or monthly rental rate charged the same tenant for the same housing unit, unless the fixed lease agreement includes agreed-upon rent increases during the term of the tenancy or agreement.
2. A landlord is required to provide a minimum of one hundred and eighty days’ prior written notice whenever the periodic or monthly housing costs to be charged a tenant will increase by more than ten percent of the rent over the periodic or monthly rental rate charged the same tenant for the same housing unit, unless the fixed lease agreement includes agreed-upon rent increases during the term of the tenancy or agreement.
3. Pursuant to RCW 59.18.140, if the rental agreement governs a subsidized tenancy where the amount of rent is based on the income of the tenant or circumstances specific to the subsidized household, a landlord shall provide a minimum of thirty days’ prior written notice of an increase in the amount of rent to each affected tenant.
4. Any notice of a rent increase required by this section must be served in accordance with RCW 59.12.040.
Under SeaTac Municipal Code 4.05.070 (Rent increases), rental properties located within SeaTac City Limits are subject to the following additional restrictions when increasing rent:
A. Rent increases shall comply with the provisions of the Washington State Residential Landlord-Tenant Act as established by Chapter 59.18 RCW.
B. A landlord may not increase the rent or charge any nonrent charges except in accordance with this section. Any rental agreement or renewal of a rental agreement shall state the dollar amount of the rent or rent increase and include, or shall be deemed to include, a provision requiring not less than:
1. One hundred twenty (120) days’ prior notice to the tenant of a rent increase over three percent (3%).
2. One hundred eighty (180) days’ prior notice to the tenant of a rent increase over ten percent (10%).
C. If the rental agreement governs a subsidized tenancy where the amount of rent is based on the income of the tenant or circumstances specific to the subsidized household, the landlord shall provide a minimum of thirty (30) days’ prior written notice of an increase in the amount of rent to each affected tenant. In the event of such an increase, the tenant may terminate the tenancy immediately upon surrendering the dwelling unit prior to the increase taking effect. The tenant shall only owe pro rata rent through the date upon which the premises are surrendered. Any notice increasing the current rent shall inform the tenant that they may terminate the tenancy at any time and owe pro rata rent through the date the tenant surrenders the dwelling unit.
Under Shoreline Municipal Code 9.35.030 (Notice of rent increase), rental properties located within Shoreline City Limits are subject to the following additional restrictions when increasing rent:
A. Any rental agreement shall include, or shall be deemed to include, a provision requiring prior written notice to each affected tenant for an increase in the base rent of not less than:
1. One hundred twenty days for base rent increases greater than three percent but less than 10 percent; or
2. One hundred eighty days for base rent increases of 10 percent or greater.
B. If the rental agreement governs subsidized housing where the amount of base rent is based on the income of the tenant or circumstances specific to the subsidized household, the landlord shall provide a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of an increase in the amount of base rent to each affected tenant.
C. Any rental agreement shall include, or shall be deemed to include, a provision requiring prior written notice to each affected tenant for an increase in the optional rent of not less than 60 days, regardless of the amount of the increase.
D. Any increase in the amount of base rent or optional rent shall not become effective prior to the completion of the term of a then existing rental agreement except for subsidized housing, which may be effective sooner upon mutual consent. [Ord. 996 § 1 (Exh. A), 2023]
Under Auburn Municipal Code 5.23.040 (Deposit requirements, notice of rent increase requirements and installment payments permitted), rental properties located within Auburn City Limits are subject to the following additional restrictions when increasing rent:
A. A landlord may not increase the rent or charge any nonrent charges except in accordance with this section, unless such increase or charge has been agreed to in writing signed by landlord and tenant at the time of entering into the initial lease or rental agreement:
1. A landlord may not increase the rent of a tenant by more than five percent of the rent unless the landlord has provided the tenant with notice of the rent increase at least 120 days before such increase shall take effect. Any rental increase of five percent or less may be served in accordance with state or other applicable law.
a. Pursuant to RCW 58.19.140, if the rental agreement governs a subsidized tenancy where the amount of rent is based on the income of the tenant or circumstances specific to the subsidized household, a landlord shall provide a minimum of thirty days’ prior written notice of an increase in the amount of rent to each affected tenant. An increase in the amount of rent may become effective upon completion of the term of the rental agreement or sooner upon mutual consent.
b. Any notice of a rent increase shall be served in accordance with RCW 59.12.040.
Rental properties located in the Auburn City Limits must serve additional resources along with any notice of rent increase.
Under Port Townsend Municipal Court 9.60.030 Notice of rent increase requirements, rental properties located within the Port Townsend City Limits are subject to the following additional restrictions when increasing rent.
A landlord may not increase the rent except in accordance with this section, unless such increase or charge has been agreed to in writing signed by landlord and tenant at the time of entering into the initial lease or rental agreement:
A. A landlord may not increase the rent of a tenant by more than three percent of the rent unless the landlord has provided the tenant with notice of the rent increase at least 120 days before such increase shall take effect. Any rental increase of three percent or less may be served in accordance with other applicable law.
B. A landlord may not increase the rent of any tenant by more than 10 percent unless the landlord has provided the tenant with notice of the rent increase at least 180 days before such increase shall take effect. (Ord. 3297 § 1 (Exh. A), 2022).
Some rental properties in King County are located outside the City Limits of the city in the property address. Even if your property address says "Seattle," "Renton," "Auburn," or another city in King County, your rental property may still be located outside of the City Limits and in "Unincorporated King County," making it subject to additional rules as laid out in the King County Code.
You can verify whether or not your property is located in the city limits or in Unincorporated King County by visiting the King County Assessor Parcel Viewer.
Under King County Code 12.25.070 Rent increases - notice, rental properties located in Unincorporated King County are subject to the following additional rules around rent increase notices:
"Any rental agreement or renewal of a rental agreement shall include, or shall be deemed to include, a provision requiring not less than one hundred twenty days' notice for rent increases greater than three percent. If the rental agreement governs a subsidized tenancy where the amount of rent is based on the income of the tenant or circumstances specific to the subsidized household, the landlord shall provide a minimum of thirty days' prior written notice of an increase in the amount of rent to each affected tenant. (Ord. 19311 § 9, 2021)."
