Know the Landlord Tenant Laws of your state! This is the most important mistake to avoid! Being a successful landlord or an informed tenant requires lots of practical familiarity with landlord tenant laws. Not knowing the rules can land you in some very difficult situations that are costly to get out of – for either side. Go online to Washington State Landlord Tenant Laws or purchase a copy at the LLA office.

Here are some other suggestions:

• Leasing up with generic Lease Forms. Most people know it’s important to have a written lease or rental agreement. But using generic form can deprive either side of their rights under the Landlord Tenant Laws or impose greater obligations than our state requires on one or both parties.

“Standard” forms that are sold everywhere are usually not in compliance with the laws in Washington State or the state the property is in.

One form that is sold in stationery stores most places requires landlords to return security deposits within 10 days, which NO state requires. And some of those generic forms omit some of the tenant’s rights that could leave local landlords on the losing end of a legal battle or with an unenforceable clause.

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For full answer please go to spokesmanhomes.com

Landlord Association of the Inland NW
3 S. Washington Street, Spokane, WA 99201
www.landlordassoc.org • 509-535-1018