Rent Increase Notice for Washington landlords
Notify tenants of upcoming rent increases with proper notice Written to WA landlord-tenant law, with the notice period counted for you.
Washington requirement: 60-Day Advance Notice
Washington requires 60 days notice. Rent control applies in: Seattle (some restrictions).
- Pay or quit
- 14 days
- Month-to-month
- 60 days
- Rent increase notice
- 60 days
- Max deposit
- No limit
- Deposit return
- 21 days
When you need a rent increase notice.
- Tenant claims they weren’t notified of rent increase
- Increase challenged because of improper notice period
- Need proof of when notice was delivered
- Unsure how much advance notice is required
Washington rules that apply here.
Rent control applies in parts of Washington. Where a local ordinance is stricter than state law, the local rule governs.
- 14-day notice for nonpayment
- 60-day rent increase notice required
- Just cause eviction in Seattle
- Tenant-friendly protections
Rent control areas
Seattle (some restrictions)
What landlords ask about this in Washington.
- How much notice do I need to give for a rent increase?
- Washington requires 60 days of written notice before a rent increase takes effect. Count from the day the tenant receives it, not the day you wrote it. Cities with rent control often require more, so check the local ordinance if the property sits in one.
- Can I raise rent during a lease term?
- Not unless the lease itself contains a clause allowing it. A fixed-term lease locks the rent for the term. If the tenant is month-to-month, you can raise it with 60 days of notice in WA.
- What percentage can I raise rent?
- Washington sets no statewide cap, but rent control applies locally in Seattle (some restrictions). Beyond any cap, the practical limit is what the market bears. Be aware that a large increase timed right after a complaint or repair request can be read as retaliation, which is separately illegal.
- Do I need to explain why I’m raising rent?
- No. Washington does not require a reason for a rent increase on a month-to-month tenancy. A short explanation often reduces argument, but the notice is valid without one.
This is general information about Washington landlord-tenant law, not legal advice. Local ordinances can be stricter than the state rule, and if a dispute is already underway it is worth an hour of a lawyer’s time.
Related WA forms
This form in other states
The document is the same; the notice period is not. Pick the state the property is in, not the one you live in.
Generate your Washington rent increase notice.
Free, no account, and dated against WA rules. Create an account only when you want the tenant details reused next month and the copies kept.