Local Law Disclosures & Other Mandatory Lease Addenda

RHAWA lease forms are very thorough and include most of the information and legal clauses needed to form a legal rental agreement throughout Washington State. However, there are a few mandatory addenda that must be attached at lease signing. Once you choose one of RHAWA's four lease forms, read the document listed just below the lease forms called Leasing Requirements by Local Jurisdiction. While it is not an addendum to be attached, it is a critical document that helps you to fill out the lease terms so they comply with all local laws. Now it’s time to attach the mandatory addenda.  

1. The Property Condition Checklist must be filled out with detailed documentation of the pre-move-in condition of the home and signed by housing provider and tenant prior to the housing provider collecting any security deposit, pet deposit, etc. That same checklist must be kept on file and completed with move-out details. The pre/post condition descriptions are used to assess damages that will be deducted from the deposit(s) at move out. 
   
   
2. The Mold Handout must be provided to all tenants at move-in per Washington law. RHAWA also provides an optional addendum the tenant can sign to document receipt of the Mold Handout. 
   
   
3. The Lead-based Paint Pamphlet and Disclosure Addendum are required on homes built prior to 1978 under law enforced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
   
   
4. Based on the city where the rental property is located, a “Local Law Disclosure” may be required.  In most of the cities listed below, distribution of a tenant’s rights disclosure document is required at all lease signings or each year of tenancy, and when updated by city. In many cases, a hard copy is required at the initial lease signing. You will find links to all of these on the forms page under the leasing forms. 
   
   Renting in Auburn 
   Renting in Burien Handbook  
   Renting in SeaTac Guide  
   Seattle Renter’s Handbook;  
   Residential Parking Agreement /
    Addendum & Instructions 
   (Required for multifamily, 2+ units) 
   Resident Billing Utility Notice (Required for multifamily, 3+ units) 
   Spokane: Disclosure of contamination or pending sale of property required before lease signing. 
   Renting in Tacoma: A Guide for Landlords and Tenants;  
   Installment Payment Plan Request (All applicants must be informed of option to pay move-in costs in installments. Must use Tacoma’s installment form.) 
   Tacoma Required Lease Clause Addendum (Several specific lease clauses are required by Tacoma. RHAWA has included these in this Tacoma addendum.) 
   Renting in Tumwater: A Guide for Landlords and Tenants 
   
   
5. The notary form is only required for lease terms greater than one year where the housing provider’s signature must be verified. 
   
   

RHAWA provides several other optional lease addenda which you can use to add all kinds of things to your agreement from move-in cost installments to septic tank details. Peruse the list at RHAwa.org/rental-forms-leases-notices to see if it makes sense to add any to your lease. If you have an idea for an additional addendum form, please contact Denise Myers at dmyers@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.