Recent Forms Updates: Tacoma, Bellingham

Just a few months ago, we made several changes to our leases and other forms in order to comply with an ordinance that changed the Tacoma Rental Housing Code (RHC), effective July 24, 2023. Based on even more recent changes to Tacoma law effective December 8 from the Landlord Fairness Code Initiative (LFCI) and a new ordinance in Bellingham effective January 27, 2024, we have made several more changes to our forms and related resources found on our forms page. (See below for a list of the revised forms and resources.)

Tacoma has provided a webpage that includes all key resources for landlords including links to the forms and disclosures you will need to use with your tenants going forward, however it looks like they are still working on adding the LFCI provisions to their law summary. RHAWA has updated the City of Tacoma Law Summary article in our Support Center to include all of the regulations from both RHC and LFCI. We have also included specific links and directions in our forms page for your convenience. A Bellingham law summary article will be made available before the new laws go into effect at the end of January.

Following is a list of revised forms with notes describing the changes for Tacoma and Bellingham. You can expect more changes shortly due to new ordinances passed in Shoreline.

1. Application & Screening

Application Criteria Guidelines – revised 10/17/2023

Tacoma: There are several new screening requirements that went into effect on 7/24/2023. All of these are discussed in our newly revised Screening Criteria Guidelines and Form found on our forms page, rhawa.org/rental-forms-leases-notices under Application and Screening.

2. Leases & Required Addenda

Washington Single-Family Rental Agreement - revised 7/20/2023

Washington Single-Family Term Lease - revised 7/20/2023

Washington Multi-Family Rental Agreement - revised 7/20/2023

Washington Multi-Family Term Lease - revised 7/20/2023

Tacoma: A line was added in Section 1 for the landlords’ address, required under Tacoma law, but also required under more obscure state law.

Leasing Requirements by Local Jurisdiction - revised 12/11/2023

Local Law Disclosures - Tacoma: attach all four - revised 12/11/2023

• Tenant Information Packet
• Rental Housing Code Flyer
• Installment Payment Plan Request
• Tacoma Required Lease Clause Addendum 

Tacoma: The RHAWA lease is (as far as we know today) compliant with Tacoma laws when:

1. It is filled out with variable terms that are compliant with Tacoma law; and…
   NOTE: When filling out the lease form, make sure to refer to our Leasing Requirements by Local Jurisdiction document found on our forms page, rhawa.org/rental-forms-leases-notices under Leases and Required Addenda.
2. The provided RHAWA Tacoma Required Lease Clause Addendum is attached, also found under Leases and Required Addenda
3. Tacoma also now requires that you attach three separate tenant disclosure documents to your lease, downloadable from their website.

4. Tenant Notice Forms

Rent Increase Notice - revised 12/11/2023

Bellingham: instructions for giving 120 days’ notice of rent increase in, and that increases of 8% or more will trigger tenant relocation expenses if the tenant moves due to the increase.

Tacoma instructions were revised to refer to the new Rent Increase Notice – Tacoma page that lists several different forms.

Rent Increase Notice - Tacoma - new 12/11/2023

Tacoma: At this time, it seems that between the Tacoma “Rental Housing Code (RHC)” and the “Landlord Fairness Code Initiative (LFCI),” a total of three notices may need to be served in order to increase rent by any amount. Tacoma provides forms for all of these notices and the required disclosure on the Landlord Resources page.

• 210-Day Notice of Rent Increase (between 210 and 180 days)
• 120-Day Notice of Rent Increase (this may or may not be required – currently unknown)
• Reminder Notice of Rent Increase (between 120 and 90 days) 
• Include a copy of the disclosure Notice of Rent Increase with each of the three notices listed above.

Be aware that if a rent increase is 5% or greater than it was 12 months prior, a tenant can submit a request for relocation assistance regardless of their income level. See RHAWA Support Center article, City of Tacoma Law Summary for details.

All notices to end tenancy, plus notice to increase rent must be served according to RCW 59.12.040 and must be accompanied by the corresponding tenant resources sheet made specifically for each type of notice. Also, none of the notices may be legally served unless the landlord and property are in compliance with:

• City of Tacoma business license requirements (TMC 6B) as of 7/24/2023.
• All tenant protection laws.
• Tacoma tenant health and safety laws under TMC 2.01.050, and dwelling habitability laws under RCW 59.18.060

RHAWA does not represent your selection or execution of this information as appropriate for your specific circumstance. The material contained and represented herein, although obtained from reliable sources, is not considered legal advice or to be used as a substitution for legal counsel.