Spring CORE CLASS SESSIONS WRAPPING WRAPPING UP IN VANCOUVER THIS MONTH

RHAWA’s first-ever Saturday morning educational event debuted on March 28 at the Paccar Atrium on the Bellevue College campus, then jumping over to Spokane Valley on April 18. Next up is Vancouver on May 16, and that will wrap up the tour of our Spring class on Critical Compliance. Starting in June, we’ll begin our summer sessions on Operational Excellence. Stay tuned for more on this next month!

Each session in the CORE Series offers two and a half hours of dedicated in-person education with plenty more time for questions, all part of a convenient Saturday morning schedule. There is an opportunity to connect with peers and light refreshments to make learning easy and accessible.

Critical Compliance - Puget Sound, Saturday, March 28, on the Bellevue College Campus Recap!

We are thrilled to report that the first session of the 2026 CORE Series got off to a fantastic start! On Saturday, March 28th, members gathered at Bellevue College for a morning of critical compliance education, great refreshments, and the kind of peer connection that makes RHAWA events so valuable. Attendance was excellent, and it was wonderful to see so many members prioritizing their education and coming out to take full advantage of what the CORE Series has to offer.

The session kicked off with coffee, pastries, and a chance for attendees to connect before diving into the day’s content. From there, our speakers took the stage and delivered an incredibly informative and practical morning of instruction. The first presentation, Critical Compliance: Leasing and Rent Increases, was led by Attorney Christopher Cutting. Christopher walked attendees through the key legal requirements around lease agreements and rent increase procedures in Washington State, breaking down complex regulatory language into clear, actionable guidance that members can apply directly to their day-to-day operations. Christopher made sure to cover all of the new laws that passed in the 2026 Legislative Session, ensuring attendees had a full understanding of our new policies well before they go into effect. Whether you are a seasoned housing provider or newer to the business, the practical depth of this session made it well worth the early Saturday morning.

Following a short break, Attorney Synthia Melton of Dimension Law took over for the second half of the morning with Critical Compliance: Serving Notices. Synthia provided members with a thorough overview of notice requirements under Washington law, covering the proper procedures for serving various types of notices and the consequences of getting it wrong. Her presentation was clear, engaging, and packed with the kind of practical insight that can make a real difference in how members protect themselves and operate their rental business with confidence. Throughout both sessions, attendees were able to engage with the speakers directly, asking clarifying questions, gaining additional insight, and allowing for further explanation of key concepts.

A huge thank you to Christopher Cutting and Synthia Melton for bringing their expertise and enthusiasm to this event. RHAWA is fortunate to have such knowledgeable legal professionals who are willing to share their time and knowledge with our members, and the quality of this session is a direct reflection of their dedication. We are grateful to both of them for helping make this first CORE Series session such a success.

We also want to extend a sincere thank you to our sponsors CalRose Insurance and Alsace Asset Services for making this event possible. Events like the CORE Series require meaningful community support to deliver the level of education and hospitality that our members deserve, and we are grateful to have partners who share our commitment to supporting independent housing providers across Washington State.

As of the writing of this article, the April 18th class in Spokane Valley is yet to come, but we fully anticipate an equally engaging experience with instructor Maxwell Glasson.

If you missed the first two sessions in Puget Sound and Eastern WA, do not worry — there’s still one more in-person chance to get the scoop on Critical Compliance issues in Vancouver with Attorney Bradley Kraus on May 16th.

Critical Compliance – SouthWest WA, Saturday, May 16, at Keller Williams Olympic Room in Vancouver

The third CORE Series location was selected for the housing providers around the City of Vancouver, WA. The Keller Williams Olympic Room is a great venue for learning, where our members can easily attend in person, gain essential compliance and operational education, and return to their weekend without the burden of long-distance travel. The large meeting room is ideal for presentations and seminars and will accommodate around 100 attendees.

Running a rental property in Washington State means navigating some of the most detailed and actively enforced housing laws in the country. Our Saturday morning sessions are ideal for rental property owners with busy lives and “day jobs” who want clear guidance on what the law requires—and how to operate day-to-day with confidence.

This session features one of our seasoned legal instructors, Bradley Kraus. Bradley is a member of Warren Allen’s landlord/tenant practice and represents many of the region’s most successful landlords.

A graduate of the University of Minnesota, he attended law school and graduated cum laude from Lewis and Clark Law School. Along with landlord/tenant law, Bradley Kraus assists clients in various civil litigation, probate, and family law matters.

Bradley will cover the key Washington State and City of Vancouver laws that regulate rental operations, including registration, lease requirements, rent increase notices, deposits, maintenance obligations, entry rules, and just cause termination The course emphasizes common compliance pitfalls, the financial and legal consequences of getting it wrong, and proven protocols that help owners stay organized, consistent, and defensible if issues arise. By the end of the session, owners and property managers will have a stronger understanding of their responsibilities, clearer operational processes, and greater confidence in managing rentals in and around the City of Vancouver, Washington. For more details and registration, go to RHAwa.org/core-series-2026.

Up Next… CORE Series Summer Sessions

This summer, we will roll out our next CORE topic on Operational Excellence, where you will hear from a seasoned and successful property owner, along with their key professional advisors. Expect a lively discussion with the experts about improving the bottom line, preparing for the future, and mitigating liabilities. You will learn proven strategies to streamline operations, control costs, improve tenant retention, and leverage technology to reduce day-to-day friction. Don’t miss this opportunity to sharpen your systems and strengthen your bottom line for the rest of 2026 and beyond.

Look for more details on our expert speakers in next month’s issue, but don’t wait to register for a session near you. Reception for the Spring sessions has been incredible, and we expect an even larger turnout for these summer class sessions!