Washington Statewide Rent Control

Q: What is House Bill 1217?

A: Passed by the Washington Legislature in April 2025 and signed into law on May 7th, House Bill 1217 establishes statewide rent stabilization for residential and manufactured housing tenants. The bill limits rent and fee increases, requires standardized notice procedures, and imposes penalties for noncompliance:
• For residential units, annual rent jumps are limited to the lesser of 10 percent or 7 percent plus the Seattle CPI, and no increases are allowed in the first 12 months of tenancy.
• For manufactured/mobile home lots, lifts are capped at 5 percent per year under similar restrictions.
• Landlords must use a state-issued rent increase form and give at least 90 days’ notice outlining lease changes.
• A 5 percent cap is placed on rent differentials between month-to month and fixed-term leases for the same unit.
• If a landlord exceeds legal limits, tenants may terminate their lease without penalty, courts may award up to three times the unlawful rent plus attorney’ fees, and the Attorney General may impose fines of up to $7,500 per violation and initiate investigations.
• Does not prohibit a landlord from raising rents by any amount after a tenant vacates the dwelling unit and the tenancy end