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Effective June 11th 2020, two bills changed the Washington Landlord Tenant Act.
~HB 1694 allows tenants to pay move in funds in installments:
~A landlord must first apply any payment made by a tenant toward rent, before applying any payment toward late fees, damages, legal costs, or other fees, including attorneys’ fees.
~If the tenant makes written request, the tenant may pay deposits, fees and last month’s rent in installments.
~Unless the tenant is on a month-to-month rental agreement, the tenant may pay these in three consecutive and equal payments, beginning at the conception of tenancy. If the tenant is on a month-to-month rental agreement, the tenant may pay in two installments. Payments are due with rent.
~The landlord and tenant must sign an installment schedule specifying the payment plan.
~A holding fee can be no more than 25% of one month’s rent.
~HB 2535 mandates a five-day grace period for rent payments. No late fees may be charged if rent is received within the first five days of the month.*
~If the rent is more than five days past due, the landlord may charge late fees commencing from the first day after the due date until paid.
~A 14-day notice to pay or vacate may be served at any time after the rent becomes due.
~The tenant may request in writing a different rent due date, up to five days after the usual due date, if the tenant can demonstrate that the tenant’s primary source of income is a “regular, monthly source of government assistance” that is received after the 1st.
*Until the governor’s ban on late fees is lifted, no late fees can be charged regardless of when rent is paid.
We are here to help you and your clients with all aspects of the rental market. Please contact us for further assistance!
Nothing found herein should be construed as an attempt to offer or render a legal opinion or otherwise engage in the practice of law. You should not rely solely on this information. We encourage our clients to work with a lawyer experienced in commercial and/or residential real estate matters as they can be complicated and confusing.
