Bring Your Hardest Questions to the Annual Legal Forum

If the last few years have left you scratching your head over Washington's rental housing rules, you're not alone and you're not wrong to feel that way. Between the recent rent control law, the layered notice requirements for rent increases, and the growing patchwork of city ordinances stacked on top of state code, even routine decisions have started to feel like legal puzzles. The 2026 Legal Forum is your chance to get straight answers from attorneys who navigate these problems every day.

Mark your calendar for Wednesday, June 17, from 3:00 to 5:30 PM. The forum is online only, so you can join from your office, your kitchen table, or between unit turns; no commute or parking required. Three attorneys currently practicing landlord-tenant, real estate, and business law across Washington will be on the panel to take on the questions you've been losing sleep over, with a moderator keeping the conversation focused and moving.

This year's legislative session looks to be kinder to housing providers than the last few have been, but make no mistake — the rules already on the books are still creating real confusion in real properties. Rent control changed how and when you can adjust rents. Local jurisdictions across the state, from Seattle to Tacoma to Bellingham, continue to layer their own rules on top of state law, and those rules don't always agree with each other. For the average housing provider trying to do everything by the book, the question isn't whether you want to comply — it's whether you can even tell what compliance looks like.

That's exactly the gap this forum is built to close. This isn't a generic compliance lecture or a one-way slideshow. It's a working session where you can hear how experienced attorneys interpret the contradictory and unclear corners of the law. These attorneys will explain the kinds of grey areas where a single misstep can cost you thousands in damages, attorney fees, or worse. Whether you own a single rental, manage a small portfolio, or handle properties on behalf of others, you'll walk away with a clearer read on what's actually required of you in 2026 and what to watch for as the year unfolds.

Still not convinced? Lets break it down:

• Direct access to legal expertise at a fraction of what an hour of one-onone attorney time would cost. For most members, the registration fee pays for itself the first time the forum keeps you out of a single avoidable dispute.
• Real answers to real questions, including rent increase notice service, rent control compliance, the rules around screening and tenancy decisions, and the local ordinances that keep shifting under our feet.
• 30 days of on-demand access to the recording, plus downloadable materials, so you can revisit anything you missed and reference the discussion when a similar situation comes up at your property later in the year.
• Member pricing keeps it accessible: $55 for RHAWA members, free for Class Pass subscribers, compared to $240 for non-members. (If you're not a member yet, this is one of the clearest examples of what membership pays back.)

If you've been putting off getting clarity on a tough situation at one of your properties, this is the forum to bring it to. The attorneys on this panel have heard nearly everything Washington's rental landscape can throw at them, and the format is designed to give you usable, plain-language answers rather than legal hedging.

Beyond the immediate value, showing up to events like this is part of how our community stays informed and protected. Every housing provider who walks away from this forum with a sharper understanding of the rules is one more person making better decisions for their residents, their properties, and their business.

Register today at RHAwa.com/events and we'll see you ONLINE June 17.