If your rental unit has issues like health and safety hazards, structural problems, or maintenance neglect that make it uninhabitable, your landlord is legally restricted from increasing the rent.

What Constitutes a Violation:

Violations can range from health risks like black mold and pest infestations to structural issues such as leaking roofs and faulty electrical wiring. Lack of essential services, like heating or plumbing, and safety concerns, including inadequate security measures, also count as violations.

Your Actions:

Document the Issues: 

Take clear photos or videos, note all communication with your landlord, and record the dates of any incidents or requests for repairs.

Notify Your Landlord:

Send a written notice to your landlord detailing the specific problems, their locations, and any potential health or safety risks. Do this well before any proposed rent increase.

Legal Framework:

Refer to RCW 59.18.060 for landlord duties and TMC 1.100.040 for tenant protections against rent increases under these conditions.

Landlord’s Obligations:

Upon receiving your notice, your landlord must fix the violations. They need to inform both you and the city about the completed repairs before any rent hike can proceed. If your landlord fails to address these issues, you may seek further assistance from local housing authorities or legal counsel to explore your options, including repair requests, rent adjustments, or lease termination rights.