Welcome to Renting in Seattle! This website provides comprehensive information and resources on rental regulations and fair housing laws in the City of Seattle as well as tips and best practices.

Whether you are a renter or a housing provider, there is a lot to know.

Seattle requires that landlords provide a printed copy of the Renter's Handbook to tenants when signing an initial rental agreement. 

Digital versions are permitted for renewal of a rental agreement, or annually for month-by-month tenants and whenever the City updates the handbook. 

Renter's Handbook 2024!

Our goal is to make the rental process, and the rights and obligations of the rental community, clear and accessible.

The handbook is organized as a companion to this website. You can find information in the table of contents organized across the various stages of the renting cycle or search for a specific term in the index at the back.  

We designed the handbook based on decades of experience in handling landlord/tenant issues and with input from community stakeholders, and colleagues across multiple City departments.

Due to City office closures we are currently unable to distribute printed copies at Seattle Municipal Tower. You can download our printer-friendly version of the Renter's Handbook.  

For published copies, order from the Rental Housing Association. You do not have to be a member of RHA to order handbooks. Click www.rhawa.org/products/printed-materials-for-tenants to order, $5.00 for one book, or $12.30 for a pack of 10 books. 

For larger orders contact United Printing at carriec@Unitedpsg.com for a shipping & handling quote.

Translated versions available: Amharic, Chinese(Simplified), Chinese(Traditional), Khmer, Korean, Lao, Oromo, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Thai, Tigrinya, Vietnamese.

Most recent rental regulations

Washington State Passes Rent Stabilization Bill

On May 7, Governor Ferguson signed HB 1217, the Washington state rent stabilization bill, into law with immediate effect. Here is an overview:

• No rent increases during the first 12 months of tenancy
• Maximum rent increase of 7% plus the Consumer Price Index (CPI), up to a maximum of 10%
• Prohibits charging more than a 5% difference in rent for a month-to-month rental agreement versus a lease
• Requires 90 days’ notice for all rent increases
• Service required by personal delivery or, failing that, post on the property and first-class mail
• Requires specific language for a rent increase notice
• Authorizes a tenant or the Attorney General’s office to bring a court action for enforced compliance
• Civil penalties up to $7,500 for each violation plus attorney’s fees and mandatory damages to the tenant
• Authorizes a tenant who is issued a non-compliant rent increase to break their rental agreement with 20 days’ notice

Exemptions include:

• Newly constructed properties 12 years old or less
• Public housing authorities and non-profit housing authorities where maximum rents are regulated by other laws
• The following owner-occupied properties provided ownership is not a corporation, an LLC where an owner is a corporation or a real estate investment trust
  • Tenancies where the tenant shares a bathroom or kitchen with the owner
  • Tenancies in a single-family property where the owner rents no more than two units or bedrooms including ADUs / DADUs
  • Tenancies in a duplex, triplex or fourplex where the owner occupies one of the units

It’s important to remember that Seattle still requires 180 days’ notice for any housing cost increase and increases of 10% or more in any 12-month period require service of an Economic Displacement Relocation Assistance (EDRA) notice. The EDRA notice informs income-eligible tenants about relocation assistance they may be entitled to if they move pursuant to a 10% or more increase. Service of an EDRA notice requires hand-delivery or mailing by both certified mail with return receipt requested and by regular US mail. Copies must be provided to each adult member of the household.

Notice & Late Fees

Effective since June 6, 2023

SMC 7.24.034 limits fees for late rent payment to a maximum of $10 per month. The new rule also bans any other fees associated with the preparation or delivery of a landlord-issued notice.

7.24.034 Fees for notices and late rent

• Effective date June 6, 2023
• Fees for late payment of rent cannot be more than $10 per month
• Fees may not be charged for
  • Notice preparation
  • Notice service/delivery

This covers all notices issued to a tenant by a landlord.

Economic Displacement Relocation Assistance (EDRA)

Effective since July 1, 2022

SMC 22.12 known as Economic Displacement Relocation Assistance (EDRA) ordinance applies to notices of housing cost increase issued on or after July 1 of 2022. The increase must equal or exceed 10% by itself or when combined with other increases in the 12 month period before the new increase takes effect.

Landlords are required to attach an EDRA notice whenever housing costs are increased by 10%+ within a 12 month period. All housing cost increases in Seattle require 180 days advance notice. 

The EDRA notice is translated in Amharic, Chinese (Traditional), Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese. 

Income-eligible tenant households may qualify for financial help to move if they intend to vacate before the increase takes effect.

Find more information on EDRA for renters and EDRA for landlords.