Did you know...

Social Links Widget

Click here to edit the Social Media Links settings. This text will not be visible on the front end.

Did you know... What do tenants want? Tenants are looking for the same basic things as buyers – location and value. A tenant is renting the home; they won’t pay as much as a buyer for those things that put a lot of value in the land.  A tenant will pay something for a view, but not as much as a buyer. Tenants want a […]
Did you know... SHOULD WE ALLOW PETS? Did you know that, per the American Veterinary Medical Association, 63% of all households in America have a pet?  According to the Humane Society, 49.4% of all renters have pets and 20% of those with pets have the pets without the landlord’s knowledge and consent.  Allowing pets on a case-by-case basis not only doubles the […]
Did you know... PET or Service Animal??? A service animal is not a pet.  Landlords and homeowners’ associations cannot deny occupancy to someone with a service animal even if the owner or homeowners’ association has a strict no pets policy.   A pet deposit cannot be charged nor can “pet rent.”  The tenant is responsible for any damage done by the animal. A […]
Did you know... BUT I AM WORRIED THE KIDS COULD BE INJURED! You cannot deny tenancy to prospective tenants just because they have children, even if you think the rental property is unsafe for children.  Families are a protected class, so even if the property is such that owner could be assuming potential liability by renting to a family with children, the owner cannot deny tenancy on […]
Did you know... REMODELING? RENOVATING? Since April 2010 federal laws require that firms working in pre-1978 homes must be certified and use lead-safe work practices during renovations.  Renovators must comply with new certification, training, pre-renovation notification and work practice standards for common renovation activities like sanding, cutting and demolition. The penalty for non-compliance can be as much as $37,500 per day, […]
Did you know... SMOKE DETECTORS – PLACEMENT – WASHINGTON STATE Washington State Uniform Building Code requires smoke detectors in each residential sleeping room.  The code also requires one detector in the basement, in a hallway leading to bedrooms and on each floor of a multistory home.   As of 2013 the State Building Code Council also requires that CO alarms be installed in non-owner occupied properties outside […]
Did you know... Am I responsible for THAT? Tenants are jointly and severally responsible for the terms of the lease?  This means that any one tenant can be held liable for all of the responsibilities associated with the lease, including the entire rental payment.  This also means that co-signers can be held responsible for any and all damages or rent owing, even if […]
Did you know... MOVING INTO A RENTAL? The Washington State Landlord/Tenant Act requires a written move in inspection report, signed by both TENANT & LANDLORD, if a deposit is collected. If there’s no written inspection report, the landlord can’t withhold any portion of the deposit, even if the tenant significantly damages the property and owes back rent. Without a written report, documenting […]
Don't Miss Our Next Post
Subscribe Now
Did you know... Free Legal Advice – Washington State The NW Justice Project, Washington State, has a free advice and referral service for low-income people for civil matters, including Landlord-Tenant issues.  This toll free, state-wide service called CLEAR may: Give verbal or written advice that may help solve the problem; Send written legal information and/or forms to help solve the problem; Try to resolve […]
Did you know... HOLDING DEPOSITS If the landlord requires a deposit to hold a property, (not rent it until the applicant has been financially approved, as one example) the applicant must receive a receipt and a written statement of any conditions under which the deposit may be retained by the landlord.   If the prospective tenant does move into the rental […]
Did you know... Happy 4th! Have a great 4th of July!
Did you know... Insurance and Condos If you are an investor and you own a rental condo, you may need a landlord insurance policy!  The homeowners’ (HOA) policy typically covers only the structure and not the carpets, appliances or drapes.  Most policies don’t cover the costs of plumbing problems within the unit – problems that can cause damage to the condo […]
Did you know... A TENANT HAS RIGHTS! A lease cannot waive tenant rights as granted by the Washington State Residential Landlord/Tenant Act.  A lease also cannot limit the landlord’s liability for injury or damages.  A lease/rental agreement can increase the rights of a tenant, but cannot decrease them.  Whatever provision offers the greatest protection to the tenant will stand in court, whether […]
Did you know... Buying A rental property? What you need to ask for if you represent someone buying a property with a tenant in place?  The following should be requested as part of the buyer’s due diligence: §         Lease and any addendums – the property is subject to the lease terms.  At the end of the lease or if a month-to-month rental agreement, […]
Did you know... Washington State – NOTICES Notices mailed to tenants, such as pay rent or vacate notices; they must be mailed from the same county as the one where the property is located? RCW 59.12.040 – In the state of Washington, when a copy of a notice is sent through the mail, as provided in this section, service shall be deemed complete […]
Did you know... Client Security Not only is it common sense to shred confidential documents, it’s also Federal Law!  The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) requires that all information taken from consumer reports must be shredded before disposal.  Consumer reports include credit reports and scores, residential or tenant records, check writing histories (tenant ledgers) and insurance claims.  The […]
Did you know... We Remember
Did you know... Investment Buyers There has been a significant increase in investment sales?  Per Dupre & Scott, last year was the third best year ever for apartment sales in the Puget Sound region.  Based on our requests for assistance from real estate brokers, there are also many investment buyers looking to purchase single family homes and condos.  We can […]
Did you know... Insurance For Owners Owners of rental properties should have a landlord insurance policy rather than a homeowners’ insurance policy.  A landlord insurance policy will cover the rental property, including fixtures, but will not include the furnishings.  It also includes liability insurance.  The lease should require the tenant to have a renter’s insurance policy, which would provide coverage for […]
Did you know... What happens when… In the State of Washington, if a tenant is not complying with a term of the lease, the tenant can be served with a Ten Day Notice to Comply.  This notice is given to a tenant who is violating a term of the lease, for example, to a tenant who has an unauthorized pet on […]

Coldwell Banker - KR - PM

© 2024 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC

Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy

Accessibility Statement | Fair Housing Notice

© Coldwell Banker 2023 – 2024. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logo are trademarks of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. The Coldwell Banker® System is comprised of company owned offices which are owned by a subsidiary of Anywhere Advisors LLC and franchised offices which are independently owned and operated. The Coldwell Banker System fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act.