Problems With Your Rental Unit

What Is It?

In Seattle, rental units must be maintained to ensure:

• Structural integrity and security
• Proper heat and ventilation
• Functional electrical equipment
• Fire safety
• Proper exits

Our code also contains rules about residential rentals and when a landlord can end a rental agreement. These rules are enforced by housing and zoning inspectors. We respond to your complaint by visiting your unit and determining whether it meets code requirements.

What It Isn’t

This section does not cover the Rental Registration and Inspection Ordinance, a program that requires landlords to register all rental housing units in Seattle, from single-family houses to large apartment buildings.

The Washington State Residential Landlord-Tenant Act, Chapter 59.18 RCW, regulates the landlord-tenant relationship in Washington. The City of Seattle does not enforce this law.

Rules to Follow

Our ordinance requires that:

• Owners maintain rental properties so they meet code standards for health and safety
• Owners and tenants follow rules regarding the upkeep of residential rentals
• Owners do not evict tenants without having a just cause for eviction

• Information for Tenants
  Translated versions available: Amharic, Cambodian / Khmer, Chinese / 中文, Korean / 한국어, Lao / Laotian / Phaasaa Laao, Oromiffa, Russian / русский язык, Somali / af Soomaali, Spanish / Español, Tagalog, Thai, Tigrinya, and  Vietnamese / Tiếng Việt
• Tip 604, Seattle Laws On Property Owner and Tenant Rights and Responsibilities  
  Translated versions available: Amharic, Cambodian / Khmer, Chinese / 中文, Korean / 한국어, Lao / Laotian / Phaasaa Laao, Oromiffa, Russian / русский язык, Somali / af Soomaali, Spanish / Español, Tagalog, Thai, Tigrinya, and  Vietnamese / Tiếng Việt
• Tip 604A, Seattle Laws Regarding Building Maintenance and Repair
• Tip 612, When and How to Report a Code Violation to DPD
  
  Translated versions available: Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese

Read the Code

You can learn more about landlord-tenant issues on our eviction, prohibited acts, and illegal living units pages. You can get more information from the Seattle Municipal Code (SMC) section on housing and building maintenance standards, SMC 22.208.

Fines

Penalties for most code violations are $150 for the first ten days and $500 per day thereafter.