Washington's statewide rent increase cap, House Bill 1217 (HB 1217), was passed in 2025 and applies to all residential rental properties throughout Washington that are subject to the Residential Landlord Tenant Act (RCW 59.18). Unlike some states that exempt properties based on construction year, Washington's law applies to all covered properties after the first 12 months of tenancy.
The law limits how much landlords can increase rent each year. The maximum allowable rent increase is calculated annually by the Washington State Department of Commerce and published after June CPI data is released (typically in early July).
All residential rental properties in Washington that are subject to the Residential Landlord Tenant Act (RCW 59.18) are covered by HB 1217. This includes:
New-construction exemption: RCW 59.18.710 exempts a tenancy in a dwelling unit whose first certificate of occupancy was issued within the past 12 years. Older covered units are subject to HB 1217 if the property is subject to RCW 59.18 and the tenant has lived there for at least 12 months.
Manufactured/mobile-home lots: Manufactured and mobile-home lot tenancies are covered separately under chapter 59.20 RCW and have a flat 5% rent-increase cap per 12-month period.
Exemptions: Properties that are exempt from the Residential Landlord Tenant Act (RCW 59.18) are not covered. This may include week-to-week tenancies, newer units covered by the 12-year first-certificate exemption, and certain other property types as defined in RCW 59.18.710.
The maximum allowable rent increase is calculated as 7% plus the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the Seattle area, with an absolute cap of 10%, whichever is less.
The rent cap is recalculated annually by the Washington State Department of Commerce using the June 12-month percent change in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers (CPI-U) for the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area, as published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The new rent cap for each calendar year is typically published in early July, after the June CPI data is released.
No rent increases are permitted during the first 12 months of tenancy. For covered properties, increases after the first 12 months are subject to the annual cap unless a statutory exemption applies.
Landlords are permitted to raise rent only once within a 12-month period. This prevents landlords from implementing multiple smaller increases throughout the year to circumvent the annual cap.
Landlords must provide written notice before a rent increase takes effect:
The notice must include:
Seattle Special Requirement: Seattle has its own local ordinance requiring 180 days notice for rent increases, which provides tenants with additional time to prepare for rent changes.
To determine if your property is covered by Washington's rent increase cap, you need to know:
You can use RentCheckMe's address checker to quickly determine if your property is covered and what rent increase cap applies.
Note: Construction timing can matter. RCW 59.18.710 exempts units whose first certificate of occupancy was issued within the past 12 years.
Properties that are exempt from the Residential Landlord Tenant Act (RCW 59.18) are not covered by HB 1217. This may include:
For specific questions about whether your property is exempt, consult with a qualified attorney or tenant counseling organization.
Landlords who violate Washington's rent increase cap may face penalties under RCW 59.18.700. Tenants who believe their landlord has violated the law should:
The rent increase cap is recalculated annually by the Washington State Department of Commerce. The calculation uses:
The new rent cap for each calendar year is typically published in early July, after the June CPI data is released. The cap applies to the entire following calendar year.
You can find the current rent cap on the Washington State Department of Commerce HB 1217 page.
For more information about Washington's rent increase cap, consult:
Important: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws and regulations can change, and individual circumstances may vary. For specific legal questions about your rental situation, consult with a qualified attorney.
Want to know if your specific property is covered by Washington's rent increase cap? Use RentCheckMe's address checker to get an instant evaluation.
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