Rental prices in Washington State have been rising steadily in recent years, and many tenants are wondering how much of an increase they can expect from their landlords. Understanding the laws and regulations that dictate how much a landlord can raise rent in Washington State is important for both tenants and landlords.

Rent Control

Washington State does not have any rent control laws, which means that landlords can raise rents as much as they want as long as they provide adequate notice. The amount of notice required depends on the type of rental agreement the tenant has with the landlord. For month-to-month rentals, the landlord must provide the tenant with at least 20 days’ notice before increasing the rent. For fixed-term leases, the landlord must provide the tenant with at least 90 days’ notice before the end of the lease.

Rent Increases

Washington State law dictates that a landlord can increase the rent as long as they provide adequate notice. The amount of the increase, however, is limited to the amount of the current market rate, which is determined by local market conditions and the condition of the rental unit. Landlords cannot increase the rent more than 10% of the market rate in any one year, and they cannot increase the rent more than 20% of the market rate over the entire length of the lease.

Rent Increases During Leases

Landlords in Washington State are not allowed to increase the rent during the term of a fixed-term lease, but they can increase the rent when the lease is up for renewal. The amount of the increase is limited to 10% of the current market rate, and the landlord must provide the tenant with at least 90 days’ notice before the end of the lease.

Rent Increases After Leases

When a tenant’s lease is up and they move out, the landlord can increase the rent for the next tenant. The amount of the increase is limited to 10% of the current market rate, and the landlord must provide the next tenant with at least 20 days’ notice before the rent increase takes effect.

Conclusion

Understanding the laws and regulations that dictate how much a landlord can raise rent in Washington State is important for both tenants and landlords. Rent control laws do not exist in Washington State, so landlords can raise the rent as much as they want as long as they provide adequate notice. The amount of the increase is limited to 10% of the current market rate in any one year, and landlords must provide tenants with at least 20 days’ notice for month-to-month rentals and 90 days’ notice for fixed-term leases.