Washington Rent Increase Notice
In Washington a landlord must give at least 90 days written notice to raise the rent on a residential month-to-month tenancy (RCW 59.18.140), and 30 days for a subsidized income-based tenancy. The 2025 rent-stabilization law (RCW 59.18.700) allows no increase in the first 12 months and caps a yearly increase at 7 percent plus CPI, or 10 percent, whichever is less, with exemptions. Attorney review available.
Introduction
What sets Washington apart is a hard ceiling on the number, not just the notice. Since May 7, 2025 the state rent-stabilization law bars any increase during the first 12 months of a tenancy, and in any 12-month period limits the rise to 7 percent plus the consumer price index, or 10 percent, whichever is less (RCW 59.18.700). The Department of Commerce publishes the maximum allowed percentage each year, so the ceiling for a given calendar year comes from that figure. The cap does not reach every unit: exemptions at RCW 59.18.710 cover a dwelling whose first certificate of occupancy issued 12 or fewer years before the notice, units owned by a public housing authority, public development authority, or qualifying nonprofit, and certain owner-occupied buildings of four units or fewer, though those owner-occupied exemptions fall away when the owner is a corporation, a REIT, or an LLC with a corporate member. Timing runs alongside the cap. For a general residential month-to-month tenancy a landlord must give at least 90 days prior written notice of an increase, dropping to 30 days for a subsidized tenancy whose rent tracks the tenant's income (RCW 59.18.140(3)), while a manufactured or mobile home lot takes three months notice (RCW 59.20.090(2)). A rent increase notice is the written document that states the new rent, its effective date, and, where needed, the facts supporting a claimed exemption. Service follows RCW 59.12.040, and mailing adds 5 days. Rent under a fixed-term lease cannot rise before the term ends unless the lease allows it. DocDraft assembles your Washington rent increase notice from your facts, with attorney review available before you serve it.
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Key Things to Know
- 1
A Washington rent increase notice is the written document that raises the rent on a residential tenancy, stating the current rent, the new monthly rent, and the date the increase takes effect.
- 2
Since May 7, 2025, a landlord may not raise the rent during the first 12 months of a tenancy, and in any 12-month period may not raise it more than 7 percent plus the consumer price index, or 10 percent, whichever is less (RCW 59.18.700).
- 3
The Department of Commerce publishes the maximum allowed percentage for each calendar year, so the exact ceiling comes from that figure applied to the 7 percent plus CPI or 10 percent formula (RCW 59.18.700(1)(c)).
- 4
Some tenancies are exempt from the cap, including a dwelling whose first certificate of occupancy issued 12 or fewer years before the notice, units owned by a public housing authority or qualifying nonprofit, and certain owner-occupied buildings of four units or fewer not owned by a corporation or REIT (RCW 59.18.710).
- 5
On a general residential month-to-month tenancy the landlord must give at least 90 days prior written notice, and at least 30 days for a subsidized tenancy where rent is based on the tenant's income (RCW 59.18.140(3)).
- 6
For a manufactured or mobile home lot the landlord must give three months written notice before an increase takes effect (RCW 59.20.090(2)).
- 7
A rent increase notice is served under RCW 59.12.040, with 5 additional days when served by mail, and rent under a fixed-term lease cannot rise before the term ends unless the lease allows it.
Key decisions before you file
Before you file a Rent Increase Notice in Washington, a few decisions shape the document: which option to choose and what each one means. The Rent Increase Notice guide walks through them.
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Washington Requirements for Rent Increase Notice
90-Day Written Notice
On a general residential month-to-month tenancy a Washington landlord must give at least 90 days prior written notice of a rent increase, and at least 30 days when the tenancy is subsidized and the rent is based on the tenant's income (RCW 59.18.140(3)). The effective date must give the tenant at least that many days.
Three Months for Manufactured Homes
For a manufactured or mobile home lot under the Manufactured/Mobile Home Landlord-Tenant Act, a landlord seeking to increase the rent must notify the tenant in writing three months prior to the effective date (RCW 59.20.090(2)). This is separate from the 90-day rule for general residential tenancies.
Statewide Rent Cap
Since May 7, 2025, a Washington landlord may not raise the rent during the first 12 months of a tenancy, and in any 12-month period may not raise it more than 7 percent plus the consumer price index, or 10 percent, whichever is less (RCW 59.18.700). The Department of Commerce publishes the maximum percentage for each calendar year.
Exemptions From the Cap
RCW 59.18.710 exempts several tenancies from the cap, including a dwelling whose first certificate of occupancy was issued 12 or fewer years before the notice, units owned by a public housing authority or qualifying nonprofit, and an owner-occupied single-family home or an owner-occupied building of four units or fewer not owned by a corporation, REIT, or LLC with a corporate member. An exempt unit still follows the notice rules of RCW 59.18.140.
No Mid-Lease Increase on a Fixed Term
A rent increase may not take effect before the term of the rental agreement is complete, so rent on a fixed-term lease cannot be raised mid-term unless the lease specifically allows it (RCW 59.18.140(3)). No increase is allowed during the first 12 months of any tenancy (RCW 59.18.700).
Delivery and Mail Service
A Washington rent-increase notice is served under RCW 59.12.040: by personal delivery to the tenant, or by leaving a copy with a person of suitable age and discretion and mailing a copy, or by posting and mailing. When the notice is served by mail, 5 additional days are allowed before it takes effect.
What the Notice Must State
The notice should identify the landlord and tenant, give the rental address, state the current monthly rent and the new monthly rent, and state the effective date, confirming it gives at least the notice RCW 59.18.140 requires. If the landlord relies on an exemption to exceed the cap, RCW 59.18.700 requires the notice to include the facts supporting the claimed exemption.
Tenant Options on an Unlawful Increase
If a Washington landlord raises the rent above the RCW 59.18.700 limit without an exemption, the tenant must first give a written demand to reduce the increase to a lawful amount, and may terminate the rental agreement at any time before the increase takes effect with at least 20 days written notice (RCW 59.18.700(3)). A notice that gives less time than the law requires does not take effect until a proper notice period runs.