Download the full Landlord Tenant Laws for Washington State
OBLIGATIONS OF LANDLORDS
Building owners must provide safe, clean, secure living conditions, including:
• Keeping the premises fit for human habitation and keeping common areas reasonably clean and safe;
• Controlling insects, rodents and other pests;
• Maintaining roof, walls and foundation and keeping the unit weathertight;
• Maintaining electrical, plumbing, heating and other equipment and appliances supplied by the owner;
• Providing adequate containers for garbage and arranging for garbage pickup;
• When responsible for providing heat in rental units, from September through June maintaining daytime (7 a.m.-10:30 p.m.) temperatures at 65oF or above and nighttime temperatures at not less than 58oF;
• In non-transient accommodations, providing keys to unit and building entrance doors and, in most cases, changing the lock mechanism and keys upon a change of tenants;
• Installing smoke detectors and instructing tenants in their maintenance and operation.
Owners are not required to make cosmetic repairs
after each tenancy, such as installing new carpets or applying a fresh coat of paint.
OBLIGATIONS OF TENANTS
Tenants must maintain rental housing in a safe, clean manner, including:
• Properly disposing of garbage;
• Exercising care in use of electrical and plumbing fixtures;
• Promptly repairing any damage caused by them or their guests;
• Granting reasonable access for inspection, maintenance, repair and pest control;
• Maintaining smoke detectors in good working order;
and
• Refraining from storing dangerous materials on the premises.
