The Value of RHAWA’s Attorney-Reviewed Leases & Forms

Like most things in life, it’s best to have a plan. Plans are necessary for making sure that things get done and are completed in the way that they are meant to be completed. The best form of “Plans” that the Rental Housing Association of Washington provides is their attorney-reviewed leases, forms, and addenda. These documents are extremely valuable to any and all RHAWA members who decide to use them because they can help you plan for what comes next. Whether you are preparing to lease your home, in the leasing process, or need to send a notice or other communications to existing tenants, RHAWA has what you need to make your life easier. 

The first section that most people look at when diving into our forms is the “Application and Screening”  section. Making sure you have all of your proverbial ducks in a row prior to leasing the property is very important. This section of our forms has everything you need: from application criteria guidelines to adverse action letters to the actual application for tenancy. 

The second section of our forms is the “Leases and Required Addenda” section. Arguably the most crucial documents we offer, our leases and all of our other documents are reviewed regularly by highly trusted attorneys so that you can rest assured that you are using the most up-to-date documents with the most recent changes to the laws in your forms. Instructions for leasing forms are also city-specific so if you provide housing in a jurisdiction that has unique rental laws, our forms have you covered!

The third section is reserved for “Optional Lease Addenda”. This section is your one-stop-shop for any and all of your unique documents: from a Bed Bug Addendum, Septic Tank Addendum, and Pet Addendum. Be sure to check this section if your property has any unusual specifications. 

The fourth section is important because this is where all of the “Tenant Notice Forms” are located. Some of the most crucial forms we provide are located in this section. Forms like the “Comply or Vacate Notice”, “Rent Increase Notice”, and “Pay or Vacate Notice” are here for your use. For these forms in particular, it is important that you observe the Serve Instructions so that you are handling every situation legally depending on the jurisdiction that the property is located in.*

The fifth and final section of the leases and forms that RHAWA provides is the “Other Tenant Communication Forms”. This section has helpful forms for Move-Out Instructions, Rent Invoices, and Roommate Addendums, as well as other helpful forms that can be used throughout the course of the tenancy. If you’re having trouble finding the form you need in another section, chances are it is going to be here. Whether a tenant is asking for a repair estimate for an issue with the property, or you need to send an invoice for work that was previously done on the property, this section has the forms and how to use them. 

A new feature I would like to point out for all of these sections is that we provide notes on how to use these forms and also note when the documents were last reviewed and updated. Located in the middle column of the page, you’ll see some instructions on how and when to use these forms. All of these sections are extremely valuable assets to the rental housing provider and provide a framework from which to operate their rental property from. 

When devising your plans for renting out your property, whether you’ve been a rental housing provider for decades or days, these forms provide the backbone of what a solid plan looks like for a housing provider in the state of Washington. If you have any questions regarding these forms or want to get more information, our awesome staff would love to assist you. Feel free to reach out to me directly at ikallevig@RHAwa.org.

Formal legal advice and review is recommended prior to selection and use of this information. 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.