WA Debt Law - Seattle Municipal Code 22.206.160- Extra Rights for Seattle Tenants

Seattle Municipal Code 22.206.160

Extra Rights for Seattle Tenants & Pitfalls for Landlords

Residential tenancies are governed by RCW 59.18 in the state of Washington. However, these rules are modified in the city of Seattle by Seattle Municipal Code 22.206.160.

For tenants, this is a bonus as it puts a just cause eviction requirement and places additional duties and limitations on landlords. For landlords, it usually represents additional work and pitfalls to work around.

The just cause ordinance is the most potent aspect of SMC 22.206.160. On overview of the statute can be found here. Some of the most common just cause conditions include:

Failure to pay rent
Habitual failure to pay rent (4 or more pay or vacate notices within a one year period)
Habitual failure to follow the terms of the rental agreement (3 or more notices for substantial failure to comply or vacate within a one year month period)
Landlord wishes to sell the property (requires 90 days advance written notice prior to the sale)
Landlord wishes to move into the property or have an immediate family member move into the property as a primary residence (requires 90 days advance written notice)
Landlord seeks to substantially rehabilitate, demolish, remove use restrictions, or change the use of the property

A tip guide for landlords created by the City of Seattle is also a helpful resource and can be found here.

A tip guide for tenants can be found here.

If you live or rent in the city of Seattle, be sure to know your rights under this municipal code!

https://www.seattle.gov/dpd/codesrules/codes/justcauseordinance/default.htm