Answer
Revisions to the Washington Residential Landlord Tenant Act that passed during the 2025 Legislative session have already taken effect. The law was changed on May 7 when the Governor signed the new legislation. With the change in law, several very important details have changed when it comes to landlords increasing rent.
Landlords may increase rent no more than the lesser of 10% or 7% plus CPI "Consumer Price Index" which is an amount that will be published by the Washington State Department of Commerce on June 1. Until June 1, there is no way of knowing what the maximum allowed rent increase will be. Conservatively, a landlord can increase rent by at least 7% and on the outside, the highest rent increase allowed is 10%. Very likely, the rent cap for a September 2025 rent increase will be somewhere between 7% and 10%.
If rental rates are increased, a landlord MUST use a statutorily required notice form to notify the tenant that rents will increase. The form of notice can be found in HB 1217, the bill that was recently signed into law. If the required form of notice is not used, the increase in rents is ineffective and landlord will have to start the process of giving notice all over again, using the correct form.
A landlord must give at least 90 days notice of an increase in rents, based on state law. There is no remaining option for a landlord to give only 60 days notice of a rent increase. It is possible that a local jurisdiction may require even more than 90 days notice of a rent increase. Property managers must be familiar with the local jurisdiction's requirements for any property they manage.
Finally, notices of rent increase must now be delivered in the same way that a notice to pay or vacate has always been delivered. The landlord or landlord's agent must attempt personal delivery of the notice of rent increase by knocking on the door of the residence and attempting to hand deliver the notice of rent increase to the tenant. If hand delivery, personally to the tenant is achieved, then no further delivery effort is required. Landlord or landlord's agent should document their file, however, with information substantiating the personal delivery to include the time and date of delivery and a description of the person or other evidence to demonstrate delivery to the actual tenant. If the tenant is not home, then landlord or landlord's agent may deliver the notice to a person of suitable age who answers the door or post the notice by taping it to the front door of the residence. If the notice is not delivered directly to the tenant, then landlord must also mail the notice to the tenant at their known address. Between now and July 26, 2025, mailing the notice is accomplished by placing the stamped envelope containing in the notice in regular US mail. After July 26, 2025, the mailed notice must be sent by certified mail. Again, landlord or landlord's agent should document their file with evidence demonstrating whether the notice was delivered to a person other than tenant or posted on the door and evidence of the required mailing.
The changes to the Residential Landlord Tenant Act are substantial and carry enormous impact to anyone who is a landlord or a landlord's agent. This answer summarizes a few important details. Brokers who are or who represent landlords must become familiar with all of the sweeping changes to the law that regulates Washington landlords.
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