QUICK SUMMARY
Gov. Bob Ferguson signed a rent stabilization bill limiting annual rent increases to 7% plus inflation or 10%, whichever is lower. The law also prohibits rent hikes during the first year of a lease and requires landlords to provide 90 days' notice before raising rents. Starting June 1, the Department of Commerce will determine the allowable rent increase percentage annually.
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson enacted HB 1217, a rent stabilization bill that limits annual rent increases to 7% plus inflation or a maximum of 10%, whichever is lower. The law also caps rent increases on mobile or manufactured homes at 5% per year. Notably, landlords cannot raise rents during the first year of a lease and must provide tenants with 90 days' notice before implementing any increases. The original bill capped rent increases at 7%, but a Senate amendment introduced the inflation clause. Additionally, single-family homes are excluded from the rent cap through another amendment. Beginning June 1, the Department of Commerce will determine the allowable rent increase percentage each year. This legislation aims to protect tenants from excessive rent hikes amid rising living costs. Advocates argue that the law will provide essential stability for renters in an increasingly expensive housing market.