Unless the lease specifies fewer days, state law now gives landlords 30 days to provide an accounting of the tenant’s deposit. This increases the amount of time landlords have to “give a full and specific statement of the basis for retaining any of the deposit.” However, the law now requires documentation of any charges. RCW 59.18.280 specifies that, “the landlord shall include copies of estimates received or invoices paid to reasonably substantiate damage charges.” The law used to say that the tenant cannot be charged for normal wear and tear; that phrase has been changed to, “wear resulting from ordinary use of the premises.”
The accounting of the tenant’s deposit must be in writing and either placed in the US Mail or handed personally to the tenant. Email and text are not sufficient.
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Nothing found herein should be construed as an attempt to offer or render a legal opinion or otherwise engage in the practice of law. You should not rely solely on this information. We encourage our clients to work with a lawyer experienced in commercial and/or residential real estate matters as they can be complicated and confusing.
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