Tacoma recently passed a law that will expand tenants’ rights! Effective immediately, Tacoma landlords must give tenants 60-days notice when increasing the rent 10% or more in a 12-month period. Starting on February 1, 2019, several other laws will come into effect in Tacoma.
Payment plans
Landlords will be required to accept city-designed payment plans for move-in fees and deposits.
Terminating month-to-month agreements
Tacoma landlords will be required to give tenants 60-days notice when terminating month-to-month agreements. However, under other circumstances, Tacoma landlords will be required to give tenants even more notice. If the landlord is planning substantial rehabilitation, renovation, demolition or change of use, the landlord will be required to give the tenant 120-days notice to move out. Tenants who are displaced in this way may be eligible for relocation assistance.
More informational resources for tenants
Tacoma will also require landlords to give new tenants a city-produced packet describing renters’ rights. Finally, the city is currently developing a website which tenants can use to find out more information about their landlord. The website will list property code violations and discrimination findings against Tacoma landlords.
The tenant information contained in this article is for informational purposes only. Solid Ground makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to its website. Solid Ground cannot act as your attorney. Solid Ground makes no representations, expressed or implied, that the information contained in or linked to its website can or will be used or interpreted in any particular way by any governmental agency or court. As legal advice must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case, and laws are constantly changing, nothing provided here should be used as a substitute for the advice of competent counsel. Solid Ground Tenant Counselors offer tenant tips as generalized information for renters. People with specific questions should call our Tenant Services Message Hotline at 206.694.6767 (currently open for messages Mondays and Thursdays between 10:30am and 1:30pm – hours subject to change) or visit our For Tenants webpages at any time.
Shellee says
Can the owner/landlord selling their home kick out a disabled person while under laws of covid-19?
If so, what is the legal amount of time given to move, or do they have to pay for the disabled persons displacement?
Liz Reed Hawk says
Hi Shellee, while we cannot respond to tenant questions via the blog, Solid Ground’s Tenant Counselors can provide advice on Washington state landlord/tenant law via phone. If you live in Washington, please call our Tenant Services message-only line at 206.694.6767 during open hours (M & Th, 10:30am – 1:30pm, PT) with your questions, and they will respond as soon as possible.
Cindy Gulling says
What if it’s time to sign your lease and the landlords excuse is that there behind on all their leases because they just bought the complex, but your rent will stay the same until they get caught up and then it won’t be raised to the point we won’t be able to pay.