Legislative Update: Two Weeks Remain

Clarifying terminations by service members in residential tenancies 

House Bill 1138 passed by the Washington Senate on April 8, 2019, by a vote of 47-0 with two excused. The bill clarifies the method and reasons a service member may terminate a residential tenancy. Read more about the basis a service member can terminate a residential tenancy and what they must provide under Washington law   

Notice required for a rent increase goes up

HB 1440 passed the House of Representatives on April 10 by a vote of 29-18 with two members excused. Read more about how this law will change your renewal practices for your current residents.  

Increasing the notice required to provide pay or vacate notice

Senate Bill 5600 passed the House on April 12, 2019, by a vote of 51-46. The bill requires a vote of concurrence* by the Senate to become law. The bill is dubbed “the eviction reform bill” because it makes several changes to the process of eviction from beginning to end. 

The most important change for property managers coming from this bill is the increased notice required for Pay or Vacate Notices. The bill increases the notice required from 3 days to 14 days. Read more about the changes this bill is making to the eviction process from beginning to end.   

Increasing the notice required to terminate a tenancy in specific situations

House Bill 1462 was passed on April 13, 2019. The bill requires property owners to provide additional notice when they intend to substantially renovate, demolish or the change the use of a multifamily residential property. Read more about how we exempted cities like Seattle and Tacoma from this requirement and when it may apply to you.