What Rent + Deposit is legal in WA? (rentals, credit check)

[MamaRed]

Hi All! We're heading up today from California to find housing for the family. I'm seeing a variety of Rent + Deposit criteria, and was wondering what was legal. The biggest I've seen is 1st + last + security + cleaning + pet, with cleaning and pet being non-refundable. Is it legal in Washington to have so many move in fees? (Here it's 1st + deposit + pet, with deposit being equal to 1 month's rent)

[poopskooper]

I haven't rented for decades but it seems you are asking strictly about the laws. I had this website bookmarked for other reasons and it seems to explain a lot of things and gives references to the actual RCWs (laws):

Your Rights as a Tenant in Washington State



Deposits and Other Fees

There are six kinds of deposits and fees your landlord could collect from you when you begin renting:

1. A screening fee (RCW 59.18.257(1)

2. A security deposit (RCW 59.18.260)

3. A damage deposit

4. A cleaning fee

5. The last month's rent paid in advance

6. An application or holding fee (RCW 59.18.253(2))

[MamaRed]

Thanks, Poopskooper! That link is really helpful. I haven't rented in nearly 20 years, and that was in California. It's crazy that so many fees are now allowed, but at least they have to provide you with justification for keeping parts of them.

[mkarch]

Originally Posted by MamaRed

Thanks, Poopskooper! That link is really helpful. I haven't rented in nearly 20 years, and that was in California. It's crazy that so many fees are now allowed, but at least they have to provide you with justification for keeping parts of them.

Whatever amount is laid out in the rental agreement is legal. Back during the dot com boom LL's would charge some ridiculously high deposits. The key difference is deposits have to be refundable, fees are not.

[Hemlock140]

The rental market is really hot here, so credit worthiness is a lot more important and the best places use as many deposits and fees as they can get away with. With Amazon adding a couple of thousand new employees every year plus all the others coming from other states/countries there are not enough good rentals to go around.

[MamaRed]

Originally Posted by Hemlock140

The rental market is really hot here, so credit worthiness is a lot more important and the best places use as many deposits and fees as they can get away with. With Amazon adding a couple of thousand new employees every year plus all the others coming from other states/countries there are not enough good rentals to go around.

We're here now, and learning this quickly. We have a couple of leads for tomorrow. The hardest part has been that people won't even return calls. VERY frustrating.

[oregonwoodsmoke]

Originally Posted by MamaRed

H(Here it's 1st + deposit + pet, with deposit being equal to 1 month's rent)

California and Washington are not the same place and the best way to get yourself thoroughly disliked by your new neighbors is to constantly tell them how things were done in California and perhaps suggest that maybe it should be done exactly the same way in Washington.

[MamaRed]

Originally Posted by oregonwoodsmoke

California and Washington are not the same place and the best way to get yourself thoroughly disliked by your new neighbors is to constantly tell them how things were done in California and perhaps suggest that maybe it should be done exactly the same way in Washington.

I debated with myself about adding how it was in California, because I figured someone would feel the need to call me on it. I decided to add it, in case someone from Washington was curious about what was so different that I would question it.

[MamaRed]

I learned some useful things during our trip to WA. We met with a rental agent, who explained how some of the rental laws work. This is what she told us: A credit check/application fee is all that can be charged initially. The first month's rent can be collected once the application is approved, in order to hold the house. They are not allowed to even take a check to "hold" in case the application is approved. In our case, the house will not be available until 5/1. All other deposits and fees will be collected once the house is available and we sign the lease. We were told that it had to be split up this way because it was the law. Many people warned us of scams through Craigslist, where "landlords" insist they be given all rent, fees and deposits up front. This would have made me very uncomfortable anyway, so I was glad to hear it wasn't legal. I hope this is helpful for anyone else rental hunting in the near future.

[OGTSO]

Get used to the California hating and welcome to Washington from a former Califronia resident. I usually just tell people I am from South of here. It is a catch22 because as soon as people know you came from California they ask you questions about how things are down there. The next thing you know they use your replies as ammunition to assert that you are trying to change "their" place. I moved up here to get away from California, not to bring it with me. Anyways, do what makes you happy and ignore the haters.