The definitions of this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise. The definitions of RCW 59.18.030 under the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (RLTA) also apply to this chapter unless otherwise defined in this section.
“Dwelling” or “dwelling unit" has the same meaning as RCW 59.18.030(10), as may be amended. At the time of passage of the ordinance codified in this chapter, the RLTA defined “dwelling unit” to mean a structure or that part of a structure which is used as a home, residence, or sleeping place by one person or by two or more persons maintaining a common household, including but not limited to single-family residences and units of multiplexes, apartment buildings, and mobile homes.
“Landlord” has the same meaning as RCW 59.18.030(16), as may be amended, and excluding the living arrangements identified in RCW 59.18.040. At the time of passage of the ordinance codified in this chapter, the RLTA defined “landlord” as the owner, lessor, or sublessor of the dwelling unit or the property of which it is a part, and included any person designated as representative of the landlord, including, but not limited to, an agent, a resident manager, or a designated property manager.
“Rental agreement” or “lease” has the same meaning as RCW 59.18.030(30), as may be amended. At the time of the passage of the ordinance codified in this chapter, the RLTA defined “rental agreement” as all agreements which establish or modify the terms, conditions, rules, regulations, or any other provisions concerning the use and occupancy of a dwelling unit.
“Subsidized housing” has the same meaning as RCW 59.18.030(33), as may be amended. At the time of the passage of the ordinance codified in this chapter, the RLTA defined “subsidized housing” as rental housing for very low-income or low-income households that is a dwelling unit operated directly by a public housing authority or its affiliate, or that is insured, financed, or assisted in whole or in part through one of the following sources: (a) a federal program or state housing program administered by the department of commerce or the Washington State Housing Finance Commission; (b) a federal housing program administered by a city or county government; (c) an affordable housing levy authorized under RCW 84.52.105; or (d) the surcharges authorized in RCW 36.22.178 and 36.22.179 and any of the surcharges authorized in Chapter 43.185C RCW.
“Tenant” has the same meaning as RCW 59.18.030(34), as may be amended, and excluding the living arrangements identified in RCW 59.18.040 and 59.20.030(24), as may be amended. At the time of passage of the ordinance codified in this chapter, the RLTA defined “tenant” as any person who is entitled to occupy a dwelling unit primarily for living or dwelling purposes under a rental agreement, and RCW 59.20.030 defined “tenant” as any person, except a transient, who rents a mobile home lot. levelnodes#openHistory" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: none; transition-timing-function: cubic-bezier(0.25, 0.75, 0.25, 1); font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 1rem 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-style: none; cursor: pointer;"(Ord. 3091 § 2, 2022).
RMC 9.54.030 through 9.54.090 apply to tenancies governed by Chapter 59.18 RCW (RLTA) and Chapter 59.20 RCW (Manufactured/Mobile Home Landlord-Tenant Act) and are in addition to the provisions provided in said chapters. levelnodes#openHistory" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: none; transition-timing-function: cubic-bezier(0.25, 0.75, 0.25, 1); font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 1rem 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-style: none; cursor: pointer;"(Ord. 3091 § 2, 2022).
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. levelnodes#openHistory" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: none; transition-timing-function: cubic-bezier(0.25, 0.75, 0.25, 1); font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 1rem 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-style: none; cursor: pointer;"(Ord. 3091 § 2, 2022).
A. All move-in fees and security deposits charged by a landlord before a tenant takes possession of a dwelling unit shall not exceed one month’s rent, except in subsidized housing where the amount of rent is set based on the income of the tenant. The exception for subsidized housing shall not include tenancies regulated under Section 8 of the Housing Act of 1937, 42 U.S.C. § 1437f, commonly known as the housing choice voucher program.
B. Tenants entering rental agreements with terms lasting six or more months may choose to pay their move-in fees and security deposits in six equal monthly installments over the first six months occupying the dwelling unit.
C. Tenants entering rental agreements with terms lasting fewer than six months or month-to-month rental agreements may choose to pay move-in fees and security deposits in two equal monthly installments over the first two months occupying the dwelling unit. levelnodes#openHistory" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: none; transition-timing-function: cubic-bezier(0.25, 0.75, 0.25, 1); font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 1rem 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-style: none; cursor: pointer;"(Ord. 3091 § 2, 2022).
Late fees and penalties due to nonpayment of rent charged to a tenant shall not exceed one and one-half percent of the tenant’s monthly rent. levelnodes#openHistory" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: none; transition-timing-function: cubic-bezier(0.25, 0.75, 0.25, 1); font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 1rem 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-style: none; cursor: pointer;"(Ord. 3091 § 2, 2022).
Rental agreements shall include a provision stating that when late fees may be assessed after rent becomes due, the tenant may propose that the due date be altered to a different date of the month. Additionally, the provision shall specify that, according to RCW 59.18.170(3), a landlord shall agree to such a proposal if it is submitted in writing and the tenant can demonstrate that his or her primary source of income is a regular, monthly source of governmental assistance that is not received until after the date rent is due in the rental agreement. A landlord shall not refuse to enter into a rental agreement with a prospective tenant because the prospective tenant requests such accommodations. levelnodes#openHistory" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: none; transition-timing-function: cubic-bezier(0.25, 0.75, 0.25, 1); font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 1rem 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-style: none; cursor: pointer;"(Ord. 3091 § 2, 2022).
A landlord shall not require a social security number for the purposes of screening a prospective tenant, as allowed under RCW 59.18.257. A landlord may request a social security number and screen prospective tenants. A landlord shall not refuse to enter into a rental agreement with a prospective tenant because the prospective tenant does not agree to provide a social security number. A landlord may utilize information including, but not limited to, previous names, addresses, personal references, and work history to screen prospective tenants. A landlord shall maintain the right to take adverse action because of inaccurate, unfavorable, or unavailable screening results. levelnodes#openHistory" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: none; transition-timing-function: cubic-bezier(0.25, 0.75, 0.25, 1); font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 1rem 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-style: none; cursor: pointer;"(Ord. 3091 § 2, 2022).
A. Any provisions in violation of RMC 9.54.030 through 9.54.065 in a rental agreement are null and void and of no lawful force and effect.
B. Nothing in this chapter shall be interpreted or applied so as to create any conflict with federal law. In the event of any conflict, federal requirements shall supersede the requirements of this chapter. levelnodes#openHistory" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: none; transition-timing-function: cubic-bezier(0.25, 0.75, 0.25, 1); font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 1rem 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-style: none; cursor: pointer;"(Ord. 3091 § 2, 2022).
A. No rental agreement, whether oral or written, may provide that the tenant waives or foregoes rights or remedies under this chapter, except as provided by subsection B of this section.
B. A landlord and tenant may agree, in writing, to waive specific requirements of this chapter if all of the following conditions have been met:
1. The agreement to waive specific provisions is in writing and identifies the specific provisions to be waived; and
2. The agreement may not appear in a standard form written lease or rental agreement; and
3. There is no substantial inequality in the bargaining position of the two parties; and
4. The attorney for the tenant has approved in writing the agreement as complying with subsections B.1, B.2, and B.3 of this section. levelnodes#openHistory" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: none; transition-timing-function: cubic-bezier(0.25, 0.75, 0.25, 1); font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 1rem 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-style: none; cursor: pointer;"(Ord. 3091 § 2, 2022).
A landlord found in violation of any of the provisions in this chapter, unless otherwise provided in this chapter, shall be liable to such a tenant in a private right of action for the greater of double the tenant’s economic and noneconomic damages or three times the monthly rent of the dwelling unit at issue, and reasonable litigation costs and attorneys’ fees. levelnodes#openHistory" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: none; transition-timing-function: cubic-bezier(0.25, 0.75, 0.25, 1); font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 1rem 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-style: none; cursor: pointer;"(Ord. 3091 § 2, 2022).
A. The Redmond council finds and declares that practices of housing discrimination against any persons on the basis of participation in the Section 8 program constitute matters of local concern and are contrary to the public welfare, health, peace and safety of the residents of Redmond. levelnodes#openHistory" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: none; transition-timing-function: cubic-bezier(0.25, 0.75, 0.25, 1); font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 1rem 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-style: none; cursor: pointer;"(Ord. 2645 § 1 (part), 2012).
A. No person shall refuse to rent a dwelling unit to any rental applicant solely on the basis that the applicant proposes to rent such unit pursuant to a Section 8 voucher or certificate issued under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. Section 1437(F)); provided this section shall only apply with respect to a Section 8 certificate if the monthly rent on such residential unit is within the allowable rent as established by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. “Dwelling unit” shall have the meaning set forth in RZC 21.78. levelnodes#openHistory" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: none; transition-timing-function: cubic-bezier(0.25, 0.75, 0.25, 1); font-size: 0.9rem; margin: 1rem 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-style: none; cursor: pointer;"(Ord. 2645 § 1 (part), 2012).
