A new rent stabilization law (HB 1217) went into effect in Washington state in May.
The law sets a limit on how much a landlord may increase a tenant’s rent over a 12-month period. The Attorney General’s Office will enforce the law, and tenants may also take action to protect their rights under the new statute.
Here’s a summary of the new law from the Attorney General’s Office:
- If you rent your home, your landlord may not increase your rent by more than 10%, or 7% plus the consumer price index (CPI), whichever is less over any 12-month period.
- If you own your manufactured or mobile home and rent a space for your home in a manufactured or mobile home park, the maximum annual percentage rent increase allowed is 5%.
- Your landlord may not raise your rent, in any amount, during the first 12 months of your tenancy. That applies regardless of whether your lease is month-to-month or for a fixed term.
- Your landlord must provide you at least 90 days’ advance notice, in writing, before raising rent.
It’s important to know that some cities have their own tenant laws that provide stronger protections than this state law. Washington Law Help has this list of King County cities with tenant laws.
“We encourage King County tenants to contact us at ELAP if they have legal questions about their own rent increases,” says ELAP housing attorney Cloie Chapman.
Downloadable resource: AG’s State Law Know Your Rights flyer
If you are facing a rent increase above 10% in 2025, you can file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office.
If you have questions about your legal rights, and you are a renter in King County, you can contact ELAP for help. (Seattle renters, please contact the Housing Justice Project instead.)
