Are landlords allowed to charge an application fee in accordance with Fair Housing Law?

Yes, landlords are allowed to charge an application fee in accordance with Fair Housing Law in Washington. The law allows landlords to charge a fee to prospective tenants to cover the cost of processing their application as long as the fee is reasonable and nondiscriminatory. The fee must be uniformly imposed on all applicants without any regard to their source of income, race, color, religion, sex, family status, national origin, marital status, age, or disability. That being said, landlords must also comply with state and local regulations regarding application fees. In Washington, the Department of Commerce has established that a landlord cannot charge more than $42 plus actual costs incurred such as credit report fees. A landlord must also itemize their fees and provide a receipt to their applicants. Additionally, if a landlord denies an application, any fees charged must be refunded. As a prospective tenant, it is important to make sure that any application fees charged by a landlord are in accordance with Fair Housing Law. You may also want to inquire about any additional fees you may be expected to pay before signing a lease.

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Are landlords allowed to charge an application fee in accordance with Fair Housing Law?

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