Creating consistency in housing.

 S-0973.1

SENATE BILL 5661

State of Washington

69th Legislature

2025 Regular Session

By Senators Goehner, Gildon, and Chapman

Read first time 02/04/25. Referred to Committee on Housing.

AN ACT Relating to creating consistency in housing; amending RCW 35.21.830 and 36.01.130 ; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that the residential landlord-tenant act was enacted in 1973 and occupies the field. The act has undergone substantial modification since that time and many cities and at least one county have enacted local modifications affecting the relationship between the landlord and the tenant. These local regulations directly conflict with the act.

In Seattle and Kent, landlords must provide an uncurable notice to vacate because of criminal activity resulting in an arrest in the city prior to serving the notice, despite the act not requiring such an extra step. Seattle, King County, Federal Way, Auburn, and Tacoma maintain distinct provisions to terminate a residential tenancy. These provisions directly conflict with the act.