Who Is Covered?

Most tenants who rent a place to live come under the state's Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (RCW 59.18 ). However, certain renters are specifically excluded from the law.

Those who are generally NOT covered by the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act are:

• Mobile home owners who rent space in a mobile home park. These individuals are usually covered by the state's Manufactured/Mobile Home Landlord-Tenant Act (RCW 59.20). This act applies only to situations where a manufactured home owner rents a lot space, or “pad,” for their home in a manufactured housing community or park. Renters of both a space and a mobile home are usually covered by the Residential Landlord Tenant Act;
• Residents in hotels and motels;
• Residents of public or private medical, religious, educational, recreational, or correctional institutions;
• Tenants with an earnest money agreement to purchase the dwelling;
• Tenants who lease a single-family dwelling with an option to purchase, if the tenant's attorney has approved the lease on its face;
• Tenants who have signed a lease option agreement but have not yet exercised that option are still covered;
• Residents of a single family dwelling that is rented as part of a lease for agricultural land;
• Residents of housing provided for seasonal farm work;
• Tenants who are employed by the landlord, when their agreement specifies that they can only live in the rental unit as long as they hold the job (such as an apartment house manager);
• Tenants who are leasing a single family dwelling for one year or more, when their attorney has approved the exemption; and
• Tenants who are using the property for commercial rather than residential purposes.

HOWEVER, all tenants have the following basic rights under other state laws, regardless of whether they are covered by the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act:

• Right to a livable dwelling;
• Protection from unlawful discrimination;
• Right to hold the landlord liable for damage caused by the landlord's negligence; and
• Protection against lockouts and seizure of personal property by the landlord.

The links below provide general information about the State's Residential Landlord-Tenant Act.  Also included are other resources that might help with dispute resolution.

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