What are the laws governing landlord-tenant relations in my state?

In Washington, landlords and tenants must adhere to its laws in order to have a successful relationship. Washington’s Residential Landlord-Tenant Act governs this relationship, setting out the rights and responsibilities of both parties. Landlords are required to make sure that the rental unit is in a safe and habitable condition. They must also keep rental units up to code, provide heat, hot water, and other necessary services, and maintain common areas. Landlords must give a tenant 24 hours’ notice in writing before entering the rental unit. Tenants, on the other hand, must pay their rent on time and must use the property for a lawful purpose. They must also take care of the unit, use utilities responsibly, follow all building and health codes, and allow the landlord to have access to carry out maintenance and repairs. The law also sets out how termination of a tenancy should occur. The landlord or tenant must provide written notice according to the terms of the lease and certain notice periods. Eviction of a tenant is only allowed when proper procedures have been followed, and there must be a valid reason. Finally, landlords are not allowed to retaliatory actions such as raising rent or terminating the tenancy because a tenant has taken legal action against them. Such actions will be taken seriously by the Washington court system. Overall, it is important for both landlords and tenants to familiarize themselves with the laws governing landlord-tenant relations in the Washington state in order to ensure a successful relationship and to protect the rights of both parties.

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