According to the Humane Society, 72% of all rental households in America have a pet. And, according to Realtor.com, 52% of all households in Seattle have a dog and “four-legged pets outnumber babies.”

Allowing pets on a case-by-case basis not only greatly increases the potential tenant base, it also gives the owner more control over which pet(s) will occupy the property. Saying no to all pets increases the chance that a tenant will try to sneak an animal onto the property.  If the landlord indicates a willingness to consider pets, tenants are more likely to be honest and then the landlord can say yes or no based on whether the animal has been fixed as well as the size, age, number and breed.

We are here to help you and your clients with all aspects of the rental market. Please contact us for further assistance!

There are no warranties, express or implied, including fitness for a particular purpose, made with respect to this communication. 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 obtain the advice of an attorney or this little kitten who probably knows more about this than any lawyer anyway!!!

MEOW!!

The Washington State legislature has amended the Residential Landlord Tenant Act. (RCW 59.18) One change is that the time for landlords to provide an accounting of the tenant’s deposit after the tenant vacates has been extended from 14 to 21 days. The change goes into effect on June 9, 2016.

Since the law does not apply retroactively, please note that if the existing lease says that the deposit accounting must be provided within 14 days, the clause in the lease will continue to apply. Many leases, including the Northwest Multiple Listing Service lease, have such clauses. This rule cannot be changed until the lease terminates and a new lease is negotiated. Any lease extension should be written using the new lease containing the 21-day deadline. If a tenant is on a month-to-month rental agreement a 30-day notice to change the rule should be given to the tenant. The revised NWMLS lease will be available to its members on June 9^th, 2016.

We are here to help you and your clients with all aspects of the rental market. Please contact us for further assistance!

There are no warranties, express or implied, including fitness for a particular purpose, made with respect to this communication. 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 obtain the advice of an attorney well versed in these matters.

If a tenant abandons the rental property, the landlord can take possession.  The tenant must have indicated by word or deeds AND have unpaid rent before the landlord can declare the property abandoned.  If the tenant abandons any personal property that has either emotional or financial value, it must be stored for 45 days and there is a process for notifying the tenant.

A judge can award a tenant up to $500 per day for every day a tenant is without his/her personal property if a landlord illegally removes a tenant’s property.  If a landlord disposes of the tenant’s property without due process, the landlord could also owe the tenant the stated value of the belongings.

We are here to help you and your clients with all aspects of the rental market. Please contact us for further assistance.

There are no warranties, express or implied, including fitness for a particular purpose, made with respect to this communication. 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 obtain the advice of an attorney well versed in these matters.

If the seller wants to rent back after closing, the buyer may need a landlord insurance policy, even if the seller will only be in possession a few days.  If the buyer obtains a homeowner policy, where the assumption is that the owner will be residing in the home and something happens, the insurance company may deny the claim.

We are here to help you and your clients with all aspects of the rental market. Please contact us for further assistance!

There are no warranties, express or implied, including fitness for a particular purpose, made with respect to this communication. 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 obtain the advice of an attorney well versed in these matters.

Washington State and Federal Laws state that a member of the armed forces may terminate a lease mid-term if the tenant is reassigned or deployed.  This option to terminate a lease extends to spouses and dependents of the member of the armed forces.  The law requires the tenant to promptly provide a copy of the notice of reassignment or deployment to the landlord and termination will occupy 30 days after the next rental payment’s due date.  A current tenant who enters military service after signing a lease may also have the right to terminate the lease prior to its expiration.

We are here to help you and your clients comply with all aspects of rental laws. Please contact us for further assistance!

There are no warranties, express or implied, including fitness for a particular purpose, made with respect to this communication. 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 obtain the advice of an attorney well versed in these matters.

There are no automatic rights of rescission in a Lease/Rental Agreement.  Unlike a Purchase and Sale Agreement, there are no inspection contingencies or neighborhood review provisions nor does the tenant have three days from the date of mutual acceptance to terminate the agreement if problems are found or if the tenant changes his/her mind. 

Furthermore, even if the sole wage earner in a rental dies, anyone else who is a signatory to the lease is still responsible for the terms of the lease.  In the case of a divorce, all signatories to the lease remain jointly and severally responsible, even if one party vacates the premises, unless the landlord agrees to release one party – in writing.

Make sure your clients carefully consider the legal consequences of the rental agreement prior to signing it.

We are here to help you and your clients with all aspects of the rental market. Please contact us for further assistance!

There are no warranties, express or implied, including fitness for a particular purpose, made with respect to this communication. 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 obtain the advice of an attorney well versed in these matters.

Marital status is a protected class in Washington State.  Marital status includes being single, married, separated, engaged, widowed and divorced.  In the City of Seattle and in unincorporated King County marital status includes cohabitating.

We are here to help you and your clients comply with all aspects of the rental market. Please contact us for further assistance.

There are no warranties, express or implied, including fitness for a particular purpose, made with respect to this communication. 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 obtain the advice of an attorney well versed in these matters.

We are here to help you and your clients with all aspects of the rental market. Please contact us for further assistance!

There are no warranties, express or implied, including fitness for a particular purpose, made with respect to this communication. 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 obtain the advice of an attorney well versed in these matters.